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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 There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
absence
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From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
always
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From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
AMBULANCE
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From this reading PATSY TRACES THE AMBULANCE.
Amsterdam
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From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
arrive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
Avenue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
car
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From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
chance
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From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
chief
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From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
chief's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
definite
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From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
direction
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From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
driven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
element
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
experiences
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From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
failures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
front
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From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
Garvan
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From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
Hospital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
kill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
luck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Having left the car around the corner, he had approached the hospital on foot.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
ordained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
partly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
PATSY
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From this reading PATSY TRACES THE AMBULANCE.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
runabout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
Swithin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PATSY TRACES THE AMBULANCE.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is always a certain element of luck in one’s experiences, and chance ordained it that Patsy Garvan should arrive in front of St. Swithin’s Hospital at just the right moment.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had driven the little runabout to Amsterdam Avenue partly to kill time during his chief’s absence from the hotel.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
TRACES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PATSY TRACES THE AMBULANCE.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His anxiety had sent him in that direction after his repeated failures to reach his chief, but he had no very definite idea in view.
