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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 preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
cautiously
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From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
closing
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From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
curt
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From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
decide
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From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
delightedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
demeanour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
earlier
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From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
fighting
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From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
frosty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
gave
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From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
happenings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lucien was the only person in sight.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
Lucien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien was the only person in sight.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
narrative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien was the only person in sight.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien was the only person in sight.
preserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
questionings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
recital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
reconnoitred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien was the only person in sight.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
stair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He entered cautiously by the back stair, and reconnoitred carefully before closing the door.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
thrashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His narrative was curt and his demeanour cold: it became quite frosty when William laughed delightedly over the recital of the thrashing Lucien had received.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading William was at the office half an hour earlier than usual the next morning.
William's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He preserved a profound silence to William's first questionings as to the happenings of the previous afternoon, but when William gave him one minute in which to decide on fighting or telling the story, he told.
