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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
appeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
assurance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
briefly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
energetic and quick
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
button
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
charcoal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He continued working.
decisive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
departed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
electric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
foil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
hallway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He continued working.
hesitating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
inclined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
interval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
lead-weighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
Somebody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
timidity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After an interval the bell rang again, briefly, as though the light touch on the electric button had lost its assurance.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments he continued working, not inclined to trouble himself to answer the door, but the hesitating timidity of a third appeal amused him, and he walked out into the hallway and opened the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a long, brisk, decisive ring at the door.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He continued working.
wrapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Somebody's confidence has departed," he thought to himself, busy with a lead-weighted string and a stick of soft charcoal wrapped in silver foil.
