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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 An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
active
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
Adam
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From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
awake
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From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
Bartle
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From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
beard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
Bede
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
dip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
forehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
hangs
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From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
hardly
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From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
inclines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
Massey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
moonlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
neglected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
pretending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
push
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
shuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
sick-bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
spectacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
Stoniton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
struggled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
sunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
thinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
Thursday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His face has got thinner this last week: he has the sunken eyes, the neglected beard of a man just risen from a sick-bed.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading His heavy black hair hangs over his forehead, and there is no active impulse in him which inclines him to push it off, that he may be more awake to what is around him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is ten o’clock on Thursday night, and the dark wall opposite the window shuts out the moonlight that might have struggled with the light of the one dip candle by which Bartle Massey is pretending to read, while he is really looking over his spectacles at Adam Bede, seated near the dark window.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading An upper room in a dull Stoniton street, with two beds in it—one laid on the floor.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You would hardly have known it was Adam without being told.
