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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 And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
abetted
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
absorbed
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
air
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
all
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
also
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From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
bed-chamber
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
begun
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
Cardross
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
ceiling
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
Chinese
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
cigarette
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
clever
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
collection
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
Constance
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
dine
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
dinner
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From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
dressed
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
due
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From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
elusive
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
fact
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
FIRE
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
following
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
gilded
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
hastily
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
hideous
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
high
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
idol
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
invited
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
joss
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
late
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From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
lay
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
leisurely
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
lighted
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
maid
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
Malcourt
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From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
MeanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
mentally
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
moment
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
neckwear
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
nineteennounUS /ˈnineteen/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
now
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
resumednounUS /ˈresumed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
sending
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
small
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
smoke
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
sometimes
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
stomach
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
tentatively
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
there
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From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
tying
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
UNDERprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
usual
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From this reading Malcourt also was due for dinner, and, as usual, late.
Villa
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From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
Wayward
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From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had begun his collection with one small idol; there were now nineteen, and all hideous.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
whistled
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From this reading And sometimes he whistled, tentatively, as though absorbed in mentally following an elusive air; sometimes he resumed a lighted cigarette which lay across the gilded stomach of a Chinese joss, sending a thin, high thread of smoke to the ceiling.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, he was at that moment leisurely tying his white neckwear in his bed-chamber at Villa Cardross.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading UNDER FIRE Meanwhile Constance dressed hastily, abetted by the clever maid; for Wayward was below, invited to dine with them.
