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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 He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
apartment
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
back
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
blazing
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
brilliantly
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
candelabra
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
candles
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From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
casting
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
chandelier
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
considered
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From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
crystal
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
deuce
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From this reading “The deuce!” he muttered.
draw
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From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Malignon drew out his watch.
easy-chair
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
fire
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
floor
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
gleam
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
huge
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
idea
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From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
illuminated
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
lamp
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
Leaning
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
legs
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
light
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From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
Malignon
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading “The deuce!” he muttered.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
other
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
out
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
outer
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
pair
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
plunged
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
sat
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From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
small
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
swinging
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From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the dim light before night or sunrise
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
watch
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From this reading Malignon drew out his watch.
wax
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From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading The outer room, in which he had seated himself, was brilliantly illuminated by a small chandelier and a pair of candelabra; whilst the other apartment was plunged in shadow, the swinging crystal lamp alone casting on the floor a twilight gleam.
window-curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had considered it a good idea to draw the window-curtains and light the wax candles.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leaning back in an easy-chair, with his legs stretched out before the huge, blazing fire, Malignon sat waiting.