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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 At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
ago
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From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
awe
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From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
belong
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From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
bleached
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From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
came
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
chamber
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
cleansing
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From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
common
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From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
daily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
died
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From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
downstairs
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
duties
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From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
elder
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From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
exactitude
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From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
incessant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
initial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
key
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
large
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
lay
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
linen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
Lisbeth
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From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
midsummers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
occasional
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From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
outbursts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
performing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
puritynounUS /ˈpjʊrəti/
the state of being morally clean and innocent
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
religious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
removing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
reserve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
rites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
sacred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
strictest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
supreme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
Thias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
ThroughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
trace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
wailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Throughout the day, except in her occasional outbursts of wailing grief, she had been in incessant movement, performing the initial duties to her dead with the awe and exactitude that belong to religious rites.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At five o’clock Lisbeth came downstairs with a large key in her hand: it was the key of the chamber where her husband lay dead.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then there had been the work of cleansing to the strictest purity every object in the sacred chamber, and of removing from it every trace of common daily occupation.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had brought out her little store of bleached linen, which she had for long years kept in reserve for this supreme use.
yesterday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed but yesterday—that time so many midsummers ago, when she had told Thias where this linen lay, that he might be sure and reach it out for her when _she_ died, for she was the elder of the two.
