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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 Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
chief-of-staff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
convent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
department
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
headquarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
insubordination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
Loring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
mischief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
paramount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
reticent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
sailnounUS /sail/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
sisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
sleepless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
steamer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He considered it was his paramount duty to make every effort in his power to sail by the first steamer.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
Strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Strain, as chief-of-staff, had a sleepless night of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was the mischief to pay in and about department headquarters for something like twenty-four hours.
Washington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Mr. Loring, reticent as ever, had gone straight to his rooms, which were far from the office and not very far from the convent of the good gray sisters.
wiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had no thought of insubordination in wiring as he did to Washington.
