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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 Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
alert
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
announced
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From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
arrival
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From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
betokened
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
boat
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From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
bright
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From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
Burnet
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From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
chatting
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From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
click
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
consciously
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From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
daughters
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
DAY
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From this reading THE DAY OF HAPPY LETTERS.
distributed
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From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
doing
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
drawers
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From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
due
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
early
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From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
ears
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
East
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From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
eleven
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From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
equallynounUS /ˈequally/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
event
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
expectation
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
eyes
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
family
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
fingering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
gravel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
HAPPY
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From this reading THE DAY OF HAPPY LETTERS.
home
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
kept
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
keys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
latch
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From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
LETTERS
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From this reading THE DAY OF HAPPY LETTERS.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
lookout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
mail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
meanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
news-bringer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DAY OF HAPPY LETTERS.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
rattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
shutter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DAY OF HAPPY LETTERS.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
unconsciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was due at eleven o'clock; and everybody, consciously or unconsciously, was on the lookout for it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The gentlemen were at the office bright and early, and stood chatting with each other, and fingering the keys of their little drawers till the rattle of the shutter announced that the mail was distributed.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The arrival of the morning boat with letters and newspapers from the East was the great event of the day in Burnet.
wives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their wives and daughters at home, meanwhile, were equally in a state of expectation, and whatever they might be doing kept ears and eyes on the alert for the step on the gravel and the click of the latch which betokened the arrival of the family news-bringer.
