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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 children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
accustomed
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
actual
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From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
all
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
assemble
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
bedimmed
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From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
behold
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
chair
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
children
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
countenances
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From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
draw
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From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
far
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From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
flowery
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
future
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
gazed
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From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
generation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
Grandfather
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From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
Grandfather's
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
happy
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From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
moments
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
now
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
old
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
picture
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
round
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From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
sire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
sources
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
spectacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
striking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their part in life, thus far, was only to be happy, and to draw knowledge from a thousand sources.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
unoccupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
unworldly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, as Grandfather gazed at their fair, unworldly countenances, a mist of tears bedimmed his spectacles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When he talked to them, it was the past speaking to the present,—or rather to the future, for the children were of a generation which had not become actual.
white-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
wreath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading As yet, it was not their time to do.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The children were now accustomed to assemble round Grandfather’s chair, at all their unoccupied moments; and often it was a striking picture to behold the white-headed old sire, with this flowery wreath of young people around him.
