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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 It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
accepted
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From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
age
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From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
articles
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From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
belonged
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From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
Bethune
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From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
Bethune's
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From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
commonplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
curtains
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From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
dainty
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From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
decorative
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From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
enough
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From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
extinguished
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From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
fallen
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From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
gone
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From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
Gordon
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From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
mahogany
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From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
Mannering's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
muslin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
NeitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
partially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
preference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
principles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
rep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
silken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
softened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
swathed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Neither Miss Bethune nor her maid belonged to the decorative age.
trumpery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They thought Mr. Mannering’s dainty furniture and his faded silken curtains were rather of the nature of trumpery.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
well-sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading They had no principles as to furniture, but accepted what they had, with rather a preference than otherwise for heavy articles in mahogany, and things that were likely to last.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a commonplace room enough, well-sized, for the house was old and solid, with three tall windows swathed in red rep curtains, partially softened but not extinguished by the white muslin ones which had been put up over them.
Young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Young Gordon had gone, and silence had fallen over Miss Bethune’s room.
