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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 I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
conviction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
dispel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
experienced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
mayor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
misfortunes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
perpetration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
powersnounUS /powers/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
practical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
reasoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
reasserted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
signalized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It left me almost immediately and my full reasoning powers reasserted themselves; but the experience had been mine and I could not smile it away.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
unlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If I had not been, the many misfortunes of my life would have made me so.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was a conviction, which even reason could not dispel, that whatever secret tragedy or wrong had signalized this house, its perpetration had taken place in this very room.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, when the library door closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone in a spot where I had not felt comfortable from the first, I experienced an odd sensation not unlike fear.