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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 Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
addition
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From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
all
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From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
anniversaries
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From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
bound
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From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
celebrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
Charles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
child
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From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
Colonel
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From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
comer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
expected
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From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
feeble
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From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
Grim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
Grimm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
hopes
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From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
misfortune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
permission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
persuaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
reasonably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
retain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
Scribner's
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From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
slender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
Sons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By permission of Charles Scribner’s Sons.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
summers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The only previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten summers old.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
wedding-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, when this late comer startled them by his unexpected appearance.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to existence.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ralph Grimm was born a gentleman, He had the misfortune of coming into the world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected.
