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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 Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
activity
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From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
administering
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
air
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From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
carpet
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
coma
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From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
computing
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From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
consultation
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From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
correspondence
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
counting
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
cubicles
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From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
decorous
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From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
degree
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From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
Delicately
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From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
desk
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From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
discreet
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From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
duchesses
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
dukes
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
estate
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
faint
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From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
father
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
fingered
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From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
floor
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
followed
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
geometric
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
gilt-lettered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
ground-glass
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From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
high
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
institution
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From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
laid
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
ledgers
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
lofty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
looking
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
machines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
moribund
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From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
partitioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
patterns
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
petty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
precise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
privacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
Rod
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
satrap
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From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, as an institution, it was moribund, coma had not set in.
some
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From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
staccato
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From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
stir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
strip
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From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
tappings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
tiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rod followed his father along a strip of thick carpet laid over a floor tiled in precise geometric patterns, looking about him at the dukes and duchesses of the counting room administering their high estate of correspondence and ledgers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
typewriters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a decorous stir, an air of activity, persons moving about from desk to desk, discreet consultation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He passed a row of ground-glass partitioned cubicles, each gilt-lettered with the name of some petty satrap of higher degree than those without such privacy.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Delicately fingered typewriters and computing machines woke faint, staccato tappings in that lofty room.
