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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 A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
absent
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
all
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From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
atmosphere
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From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
band
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From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
become
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
becomes
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
best
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
big
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From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
billiard-room
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From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
Billiards
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From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
brothers
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From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
coffee
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From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
diners
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From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
Dinner
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From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
drunk
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From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
easy
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
essential
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From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
Game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
genial
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From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
Guards
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From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
happy
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From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
hardly
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From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
harmony
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
lute
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
meal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
mess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
pool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
regimental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
reign
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
rift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
snooker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
suspicion
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From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A Game of Billiards The officers' mess of the Guards--the billiard-room.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
unbearable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
UnlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is essential that all the members of a regimental mess should be as a band of brothers, as it were, a big and perfectly happy family.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There had been something in the atmosphere during the meal which was hardly genial.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Dinner was over, coffee was being drunk while the diners played a game of snooker pool, that is, some of them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Unless they are on the best of terms with each other, that easy atmosphere is absent, and things become impossible; there must not be even a suspicion of a rift in the lute, if that complete harmony is to reign without which the position becomes unbearable.
