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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 "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
apparently
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From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
application
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From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
associates
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From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
barber
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From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
bitter
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From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
career
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From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
college
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From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
delivering
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From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
dispassionately
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From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
effect
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From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
fourteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
Hickory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was silent.
ignoring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
Instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
kite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
lockup
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
razor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
remarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was silent.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
starting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
steered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
stole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
subtly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was silent.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.