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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 most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
aim
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
all-powerful
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From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
autocratic
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From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
beauty
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
bride
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
causes
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From this reading It is even possible for the mother-in-law, for certain causes, to divorce the young wife.
certain
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From this reading It is even possible for the mother-in-law, for certain causes, to divorce the young wife.
divorce
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From this reading It is even possible for the mother-in-law, for certain causes, to divorce the young wife.
dreaded
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From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
enhance
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
enters
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From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is even possible for the mother-in-law, for certain causes, to divorce the young wife.
Far
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From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
future
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From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
gifts
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
girl's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
goodwill
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From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
gown
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
happiness
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From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
inconspicuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
Japanese
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From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
knows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
Meekly
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From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
mother-in-law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
possess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
propitiating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
robed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
smiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Far more necessary is it for her to have the goodwill of the mother-in-law than that of the husband.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Her future happiness, she knows, is in the hands of this autocratic and all-powerful lady.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading THE most dreaded moment of a Japanese girl’s life is when she enters the house of the mother-in-law.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is even possible for the mother-in-law, for certain causes, to divorce the young wife.
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Meekly the wise bride enters, with propitiating smiles and gifts, robed in her most inconspicuous gown, her aim being not to enhance whatever beauty she may possess, but, if possible, to hide it.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is even possible for the mother-in-law, for certain causes, to divorce the young wife.
