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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 He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Who am I?” asked John Armitage soberly.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
applied
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From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
arm
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From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
Armitage
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From this reading “Who am I?” asked John Armitage soberly.
Armitage's
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From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Who am I?” asked John Armitage soberly.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
attention
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From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
box
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From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
entertained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
EXCHANGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
faithfulnounUS /ˈfaithful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
fireplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
glow
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From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Who am I?” asked John Armitage soberly.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
MESSAGES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
Mitchell
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From this reading —S. Weir Mitchell.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
ointment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
older
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
Oscar
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From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
pact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
pine-knot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading —S. Weir Mitchell.
screw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
sharplynounUS /ˈsharply/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
smoldered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
soberly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Who am I?” asked John Armitage soberly.
soldier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
tossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little soldier turned and stood sharply at attention.
unchallenged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
vassal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
Weir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading —S. Weir Mitchell.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He tossed the stick of a match into the fireplace, where a pine-knot smoldered, drew his pipe into a glow and watched Oscar screw the top on a box of ointment which he had applied to Armitage’s arm.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES When youth was lord of my unchallenged fate, And time seemed but the vassal of my will, I entertained certain guests of state— The great of older days, who, faithful still, Have kept with me the pact my youth had made.