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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 waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
average
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
bilious
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From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
ceiling
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
chairs
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
corner
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
cupboard
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From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
day
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From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
dust
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
dusty
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
ease
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
felt
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
few
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
furniture
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
hatred
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From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
head
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
ill-tempered
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From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
irritable
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From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
knock
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
late
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From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
lay
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
low-pitched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
man
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From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
manuscripts
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
paces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
peeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
poverty-stricken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
rather
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
refreshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
rickety
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From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
sleep
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From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
untouched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He waked up late next day after a broken sleep.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a tiny cupboard of a room about six paces in length.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The furniture was in keeping with the room: there were three old chairs, rather rickety; a painted table in the corner on which lay a few manuscripts and books; the dust that lay thick upon them showed that they had been long untouched.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But his sleep had not refreshed him; he waked up bilious, irritable, ill-tempered, and looked with hatred at his room.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had a poverty-stricken appearance with its dusty yellow paper peeling off the walls, and it was so low-pitched that a man of more than average height was ill at ease in it and felt every moment that he would knock his head against the ceiling.