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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 Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
almost
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From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
avaricious
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From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
bleak
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From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
branches
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From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
broadcast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
cabbage
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From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
cold
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From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
collecting
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From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
cross-legged
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From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
December
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
drops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
eyes
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From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
flecked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
glistening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
greasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
hissed
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From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
level
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
October
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
orange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
painfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
peel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
russet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
seeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
sizzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
sodden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
sowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
stalks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
Star
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
Sunday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
tailor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
threat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
threshold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
Victoria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
wet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
