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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 Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/
any person at all
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
attention
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From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
beatings
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From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
carriages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
clocks
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From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
counting
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From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
death
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From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
desire
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From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
directions
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From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
doubted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
end
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From this reading To what end?
engrossed
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From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
excepting
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From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
inoffensive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
remarking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
rumbling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
Saint-Philippe-du-Roule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
seconds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
slower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To what end?
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
ValentinenounUS /ˈvæləntaɪn/
a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
Valentine's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Valentine was alone; two other clocks, slower than that of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, struck the hour of midnight from different directions, and excepting the rumbling of a few carriages all was silent.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She began counting them, remarking that they were much slower than the beatings of her heart; and still she doubted,—the inoffensive Valentine could not imagine that anyone should desire her death.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading To what end?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then Valentine’s attention was engrossed by the clock in her room, which marked the seconds.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should they?
