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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 A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
air
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From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
aromatic
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
back
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
band
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From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
Batley
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From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
black
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
bookcases
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From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
brightness
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From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
cigar
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From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
clad
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From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
cleanly-molded
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From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
conventional
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From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
conveying
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From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
diffused
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
dimmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
distance
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From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
face
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From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
faint
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
figure
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From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
finely-lined
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From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
fire
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
flickered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
fragrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
FUTILE
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From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
Gladwyne
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From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
harmony
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From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
hearth
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From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
Heavily-corniced
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From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
high-ceilinged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
ice
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
just
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From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
lounged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
owner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
polished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
PROTEST
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From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
ran
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From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
receded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
severe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
simplicity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
stamped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
stateliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Something in his finely-lined figure and cleanly-molded face stamped him as one at home in such a place.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heavily-corniced bookcases rose above it on either band, conveying an idea of space and distance by the way they grew dimmer as they receded from the light.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A FUTILE PROTEST It was late at night, but Gladwyne sat, cigar in hand, in his library, while Batley lounged beside the hearth.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The room had an air of stateliness in its severe simplicity, and its owner, sitting just inside the ring of brightness, clad in conventional black and white, looked in harmony with it.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wood fire diffused a faint aromatic fragrance into the great high-ceilinged room, and the light of a single silver lamp flickered on the polished floor, which ran back like a sheet of black ice into the shadow.
