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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 couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
Allan
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From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
announced
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From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
back
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From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
boy
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From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
career
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From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
cash
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From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
definite
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From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
departed
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From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
died
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From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
doors
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From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
estate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
expected
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From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
friends
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From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
influence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
intention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
later
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From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
Montague's
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From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
more
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From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
Oliver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
pleasure-loving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
pockets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
prodigal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
share
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So he had turned his share of the estate into cash and departed.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
wealth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had no profession, and no definite plans; but his father’s friends were men of influence and wealth, and the doors were open to him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oliver was a gay and pleasure-loving boy, with all the material of a prodigal son in him; his brother had more than half expected to see him come back in a year or two with empty pockets.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Allan Montague’s father had died about five years before.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
younger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A couple of years later his younger brother, Oliver, had announced his intention of seeking a career in New York.
