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aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.
addednounUS /added/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
advantages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
aspired
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From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
canvassed
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From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
centre
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From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
churchwardens
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From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
comments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
day
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From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
dispute
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From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
fault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
freely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.
Homfrays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
houses
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From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
LongnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
Mr
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From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
prescription
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
rector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
rectory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
squabbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
strictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
tandem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
Tongues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
wagged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tongues had not wagged about him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
Williams's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been none of these squabbles in old Mr. Williams’s time, they said.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But then, they added, he had not aspired to drive tandem with the Homfrays!
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But they had on their side all the advantages of prescription, while of the rector people said that there was no smoke without fire, and that he would not have become the subject of so many comments and strictures, and the centre of more than one dispute, without being in fault.
writ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long before noon on the next day the service of the writ at the rectory was pretty well known in the town, and the course which the churchwardens had taken was freely canvassed in more houses than one.
