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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 When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
all
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From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
bosom
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From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
brightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.
Dilworthy
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From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
encouragement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
fell
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From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
fleeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
grateful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
Land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
Laura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.
Laura's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
Louise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
ray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
sell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
Senator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
Tennessee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Louise told Laura in confidence.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When next Laura was alone, she fell into a train of thought something like this:
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Laura's face suddenly brightened under it--only for an instant, it is true, but poor Louise was grateful for even that fleeting ray of encouragement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
Washington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once more Louise had good news from her Washington--Senator Dilworthy was going to sell the Tennessee Land to the government!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She had told her parents, too, and also several bosom friends; but all of these people had simply looked sad when they heard the news, except Laura.