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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 Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
admittance
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From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
air
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From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
array
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From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
carriage
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From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
coat
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From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
cravatnounUS /krəˈvæt/
A short, wide strip of silk fabric worn by gentlemen around the neck inside an open-collared shirt.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
curtained
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From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
dank
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From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
dazzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
dismal
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From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
doctor's
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From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
doorways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
gain
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From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
gleam
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From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
illumined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
Pierre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
plants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
Puffs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
rainy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
rushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
shutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters had been closed, and the curtains carefully drawn, and no gleam from the dull sky could gain admittance.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However, as soon as the servant opened the door of the first drawing-room, a stream of light dazzled the guests.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
throwing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall of the doctor’s house stood Pierre, in dress coat and white cravat, throwing open the door as each carriage rolled up.
winter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only two o’clock, but the evening seemed as near at hand as on a dismal winter’s day.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Puffs of dank air rushed in; the afternoon was rainy, and a yellow light illumined the narrow hall, with its curtained doorways and array of green plants.
