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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 It could not have come at a worse time.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/
any person at all
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading I was working around the clock.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
attend
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From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
Aunt
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From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
away
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From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
clock
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From this reading I was working around the clock.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
days
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From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
deadline
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From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
desperately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
doctorate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
draft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
fourthnounUS /fourth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
funeral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
informing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
Matilda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
minimum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
needed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If it had been a telegram informing me of her death I could not have taken time out to attend the funeral.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
thesis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading _Aunt Matilda needed him desperately, but when he arrived she did not want him and neither did anyone else in his home town._ I was in the midst of the fourth draft of my doctorate thesis when Aunt Matilda's telegram came.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was working around the clock.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have come at a worse time.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The deadline for my thesis was four days away and there was a minimum of five days of hard work to do on it yet.
