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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 The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
acquired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
attended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
called
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From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
certainly
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From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
compelled
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From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
Conservative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
consisted
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From this reading But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
decreasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Perhaps they did not expect it yet.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
Duke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
efforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
existing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading Perhaps they did not expect it yet.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
fact
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From this reading But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.
February
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
leading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
Liberals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
majority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
minority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps they did not expect it yet.
politicians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
Session
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But the strength of the minority consisted, not in the fact that the majority against them was small, but that it was decreasing.
Study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In February they certainly had not expected to be called to power in the course of the existing Session.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading There was still a Conservative majority,--though but a small majority.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
utilised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
votes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Duke in His Study It was natural that at such a time, when success greater than had been expected had attended the efforts of the Liberals, when some dozen unexpected votes had been acquired, the leading politicians of that party should have found themselves compelled to look about them and see how these good things might be utilised.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Perhaps they did not expect it yet.
