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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 Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
all
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
basketmaker
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
became
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
bills
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
blunderers
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
circumstances
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
comedian
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From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
comparison
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
consigned
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
Couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
discover
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
education
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
elements
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From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
elocution
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
end
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
entered
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
father
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
genius
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
George
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
groundwork
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From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
imitate
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From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
imitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
items
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
lesson
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
lo
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From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
man's
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
masters
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
Morley
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From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
most
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
ObservationnounUS /ˈobservation/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
observe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
paid
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From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
practical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
primal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Observation, imitation, lo! the groundwork of all art! the primal elements of all genius!
puzzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
scientific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
serviceable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
skill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
theories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
Waife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Waife did not puzzle him with scientific theories.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All that the great comedian required of him was to observe and to imitate.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in his education were never entered in the bills which his father paid for it.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the end of the very first lesson George Morley saw that all the elocution masters to whose skill he had been consigned were blunderers in comparison with the basketmaker.