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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 It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
announced
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
anxious
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From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
away
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
breaking
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
carved
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
casting
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
chirping
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
clock
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
creaking
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
cricket
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
door
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
dying
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
Esther
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
exactness
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From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
face
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From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
fantastic
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
father
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
flickering
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
furniture
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
grate
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
heard
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
high-elbowed
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
intermittent
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
light
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
measured
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
o'clock
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
oak
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
obscurity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
off
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
opposite
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
other
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
panelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
parlour
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
past
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
portraits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
profile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
quarter
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
reached
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
Rembrandt's
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From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
room
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
sanctum
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
sat
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
sister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
slamming
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
sound
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From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
straight-backed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
threw
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
ticking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We sat opposite to each other on either side of the table with no sound breaking the silence save the measured ticking of the clock and the intermittent chirping of a cricket beneath the grate.
timepiece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
together
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From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
uncertain
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From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
up
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From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We heard his slow steps dying away up the creaking staircase, until the distant slamming of a door announced that he had reached his sanctum.
weird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The simple oil lamp upon the table threw a weird, uncertain light over the old room, flickering upon the carved oak panelling, and casting strange, fantastic shadows from the high-elbowed, straight-backed furniture.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was a quarter past ten o'clock by the parlour timepiece when my father went off to his room, and left Esther and myself together.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading My sister's white, anxious face stood out in the obscurity with a startling exactness of profile like one of Rembrandt's portraits.
