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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 dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
beholding
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From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
brains
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
certainly
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
Church
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
constitutes
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From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
danger
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From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
diplomatist
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From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
doctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
drag
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
dullest
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From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
enough
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From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
fatal
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
fifty
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
fire
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
foresee
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From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
francs
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
fright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
godfather
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
ground
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From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
hearing
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
heirs
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From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
hundred
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
hurry
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
influence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
losing
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
now
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From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
obtuse
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
pale
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
peasant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
post
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
powerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
property
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
really
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
reasoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
Self-interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
self-interests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
stamped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
stupidest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
two
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From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
understood
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From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
Ursula
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From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So the fatal reasoning, “If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property,” was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The post master had forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square; for if the doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.