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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 ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
alive
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
almost
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
ARCHER
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From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
called
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
came
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
Christmas
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
declare
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
deferred
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
despair
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
don't
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From this reading “Go! go, Ethel,” she said, “don’t keep me waiting.”
door
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
doubt
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From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
down
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From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
Dr
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
drawing-room
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
early
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
end
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
Ethel
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From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
Exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
faded
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
fain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
forenoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
glad
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From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
Go
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From this reading “Go! go, Ethel,” she said, “don’t keep me waiting.”
GURNEY
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From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
heart-sickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
holidays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go! go, Ethel,” she said, “don’t keep me waiting.”
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
rebel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go! go, Ethel,” she said, “don’t keep me waiting.”
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Go! go, Ethel,” she said, “don’t keep me waiting.”
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
Spencer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
tap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
thunderclap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
tidings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
tones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Margaret started as if those gentle tones had been a thunderclap.
Twas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Go! go, Ethel,” she said, “don’t keep me waiting.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Twas a long doubt; we never heard Exactly how the ship went down.--ARCHER GURNEY.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The tidings came at last, came when the heart-sickness of hope deferred had faded into the worse heart-sickness of fear deferred, and when spirits had been fain to rebel, and declare that they would be almost glad to part with the hope that but kept alive despair.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The Christmas holidays had come to an end, and the home party were again alone, when early in the forenoon, there was a tap at the drawing-room door, and Dr. Spencer called, “Ethel, can you come and speak to me?”
