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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 The Worcester Jug finds a Purchaser.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading CHRISTMAS was again drawing near.
almost
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From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
bearing
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From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
belonged
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From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
carriage
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From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
china-dealer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
CHRISTMAS
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From this reading CHRISTMAS was again drawing near.
Colonel
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From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
conscious
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From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
dingy
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From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
disdain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
drawing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHRISTMAS was again drawing near.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
finds
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From this reading The Worcester Jug finds a Purchaser.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
Griffin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
increasing
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From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
Jug
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From this reading The Worcester Jug finds a Purchaser.
lane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
Maggie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
maintained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
military
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From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHRISTMAS was again drawing near.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
painfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
Platten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
Purchaser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Worcester Jug finds a Purchaser.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
shops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
soldierly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
stern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
Stoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
tenements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Worcester Jug finds a Purchaser.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
uninviting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CHRISTMAS was again drawing near.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading What had brought him that way he could scarcely tell; and as he walked along, with his upright, military carriage and proud, stern face, he looked with disdain on the dingy tenements and strange, uninviting shops on either side the way.
Worcester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Worcester Jug finds a Purchaser.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was almost a year since little Maggie came to John Griffin's home, and he and his wife held her as dear as if she had always belonged to them, when one afternoon Colonel Platten, on his return from a visit to Stoke, passed through the lane in which the old china-dealer lived.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he still maintained his soldierly bearing, the colonel was beginning to be painfully conscious of increasing years.
