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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 Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
Abbey
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From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
antiquary
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From this reading For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
axe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
blows
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
calash
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From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
called
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
chaplaincy
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From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
châteaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/
A large French country house or castle, often surrounded by expansive estates and private galleries.
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
elbowed
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From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
encountered
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
endowed
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From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
entered
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From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
Europe
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
farm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.
funereal
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
Hougomont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
Hugo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
Hugomons
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From this reading For the antiquary, Hougomont is _Hugomons_.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
knot
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
longer
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From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
manor
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From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
Napoleon
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was a château; it is no longer anything but a farm.
obstacle
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
pushed
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From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
resistance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
Sire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
sixthnounUS /sixth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
Somerel
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From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
traveller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traveller pushed open the door, elbowed an ancient calash under the porch, and entered the courtyard.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
Villiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
Waterloo
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From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading This manor was built by Hugo, Sire of Somerel, the same who endowed the sixth chaplaincy of the Abbey of Villiers.
wood-cutter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hougomont,—this was a funereal spot, the beginning of the obstacle, the first resistance, which that great wood-cutter of Europe, called Napoleon, encountered at Waterloo, the first knot under the blows of his axe.