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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 The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
ago
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
allowed
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
arabesque
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
bars
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
become
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From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
bench
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
century
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From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
charming
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From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
corner
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
crowned
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
departure
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From this reading Gardening had taken its departure, and nature had returned.
depths
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
dreamer
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
enough
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
epoch
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
everywhere
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
extraordinary
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From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
eyes
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
fastened
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
forty
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
fresh
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
garden
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From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
Gardening
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From this reading Gardening had taken its departure, and nature had returned.
gate
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
gaze
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
green
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
halted
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
hid
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
indiscreetly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
lattices
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
lost
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
more
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From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
moss-covered
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
mouldy
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
nails
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
nature
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From this reading Gardening had taken its departure, and nature had returned.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
oddly
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
padlocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
passers-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
pediment
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
penetrate
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
pillars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Gardening had taken its departure, and nature had returned.
rotting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
secrets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
several
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From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
statues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
suspicion
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From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gardening had taken its departure, and nature had returned.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The garden thus left to itself for more than half a century had become extraordinary and charming.
tottering
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From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
turf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
undecipherable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
verdant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
walks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a stone bench in one corner, one or two mouldy statues, several lattices which had lost their nails with time, were rotting on the wall, and there were no walks nor turf; but there was enough grass everywhere.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading More than one dreamer of that epoch often allowed his thoughts and his eyes to penetrate indiscreetly between the bars of that ancient, padlocked gate, twisted, tottering, fastened to two green and moss-covered pillars, and oddly crowned with a pediment of undecipherable arabesque.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passers-by of forty years ago halted to gaze at it, without a suspicion of the secrets which it hid in its fresh and verdant depths.
