Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
answers
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From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
behavior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
bodies
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From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
century
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From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
classroom
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From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
Clayton's
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
conform
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From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
Corelli
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
deliberately
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
desk
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From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
Dr
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
embarrassed
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From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
er
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From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
evade
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From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
exploited
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
face
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
feigning
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From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
foibles
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
hysteria
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From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
impassive
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
manage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
marble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
Martian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
mask
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From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
mass
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From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
observers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
offered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
paperweights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
present
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From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
product
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From this reading And mass hysteria is by no means a product of the present century.
Psychopathology
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
quantities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
scenes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
scientific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
shifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
ships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
sidewalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
trained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
uneasily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
uninspiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Psychopathology has offered possible answers to why, from time to time, people in large quantities "see" strange things in the sky which manage to evade trained scientific observers, or conform to what is known about the behavior of falling or flying bodies.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment, the little group stood there in embarrassed silence in the classroom, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other, feigning interest in the paperweights upon Clayton's desk, or in the utterly uninspiring scenes on the sidewalk outside the window.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You say, Corelli, that you saw three--er, Martian--ships.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But--what if these human foibles were deliberately being exploited?_ Dr. Clayton's face was impassive as a marble mask when he turned to young Corelli.