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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 He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
arranged
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From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
ascended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
Bible
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From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
carried
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From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
ceremonious
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From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
Church
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From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
coat
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From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
collar
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From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
decent
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From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
dome
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From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
Dr
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From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
Drummond
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From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was there before Peter” was a triumphant evidence of punctuality.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
feature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
forehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
given
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From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was there before Peter” was a triumphant evidence of punctuality.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
Knox
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
Macfarlane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
minister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
narrow
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From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
notices
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From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
Peter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
pulpit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
punctuality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was there before Peter” was a triumphant evidence of punctuality.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
quoted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
severe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
Sunday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
test
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was there before Peter” was a triumphant evidence of punctuality.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
triumphant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was there before Peter” was a triumphant evidence of punctuality.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He ascended the pulpit exactly three minutes before the minister did; and the dignity with which he put one foot before the other made his appearance a ceremonious feature of the service and a thing quoted.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a small spare man, with thin grey hair that fell back from the narrow dome of his forehead to his coat collar, decent and severe.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Dr Drummond would have liked to make it a test.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter Macfarlane had carried the big Bible up the pulpit steps of Knox Church, and arranged the glass of water and the notices to be given out beside it, twice every Sunday for twenty years.
