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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 This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
abode
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From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
almost
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
analogy
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
beam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
corner
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
cracks
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From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
crowned
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From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
decorated
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From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
delightful
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
diagonal
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From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
down
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
du
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
enable
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
evident
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From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
example
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From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
formerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
give
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From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
Half-waynounUS /half-way/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
hieroglyphics
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From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
historians
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
horizontal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
lightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
mortices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
outlined
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From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
parallel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
passer-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
Petit-Lion
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/
a soft material used to cover and protect a wound
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
quivered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
reconstruct
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From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
Rue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
Saint-Denis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
structure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
threatening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
timbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
traced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
triangular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
tumbledown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
vehicle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
venerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
Vs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was evident that every beam quivered in its mortices at the passing of the lightest vehicle.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Half-way down the Rue Saint-Denis, almost at the corner of the Rue du Petit-Lion, there stood formerly one of those delightful houses which enable historians to reconstruct old Paris by analogy.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading This venerable structure was crowned by a triangular roof of which no example will, ere long, be seen in Paris.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The threatening walls of this tumbledown abode seemed to have been decorated with hieroglyphics.
Xs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what other name could the passer-by give to the Xs and Vs which the horizontal or diagonal timbers traced on the front, outlined by little parallel cracks in the plaster?
