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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 had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
arranged
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From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
barber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
better
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From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
Certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
covertly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
curls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
Darby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
define
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
explain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
lapse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
Mallow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
mud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
owned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
PEACE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
puzzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
rubbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
sensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
stiff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
sufficed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
trim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly old Darby looked a thought more trim, and the room a trifle better ordered than he had left them.
Ulick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
undried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
vaguely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But he was sensible, though vaguely, that the change did not stop there--perhaps did not begin there.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had returned a week later to the day than he had arranged to return.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But had his absence run into months instead of weeks the lapse of time had not sufficed to explain the change which he felt, but could not define, in his surroundings.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
wig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading PEACE Uncle Ulick, with the mud of the road still undried on his boots, and the curls still stiff in the wig which the town barber at Mallow had dressed for him, rubbed his chin with his hand and, covertly looking round the room, owned himself puzzled.
