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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 Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
accountsnounUS /ˈaccounts/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
advantage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
ask
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
attention
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
business
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
Carnicerín
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
Conejo
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
crosses
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
Custodio
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From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
Custodio's
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
devised
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
eager
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From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
El
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
exceedingly
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From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
fellow
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From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
gifts
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From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
how
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From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
Ideas
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
illustrated
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
intelligent
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From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
invention
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
Justa
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
kept
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
La
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From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
listened
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
made
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
Manuel
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
natural
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From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
notes
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
notion
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From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
observant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
own
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
picked
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
purposes
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
ragdealer
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
reviews
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From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
scratches
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From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
Señor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio's Ideas--La Justa, El Carnicerín, and El Conejo.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
substitute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
utmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Señor Custodio was an intelligent fellow of natural gifts, very observant and quick to take advantage of a situation.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the afternoon, work done, he would ask Manuel to read the newspapers and the illustrated reviews that he picked up on the streets, and the ragdealer and his wife listened with the utmost attention.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Señor Custodio was exceedingly eager for knowledge, and if it weren't that the notion struck him as ridiculous, he would have set about learning how to read and write.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He could neither read nor write, yet made notes and kept accounts; with crosses and scratches of his own invention he devised a substitute for writing, at least for the purposes of his own business.
