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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 “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading You did n’t know I was so philosophical, did you?”
gaily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.
gentlemanly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
Joyce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You did n’t know I was so philosophical, did you?”
Latour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
milliner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
n't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You did n’t know I was so philosophical, did you?”
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
philosophical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You did n’t know I was so philosophical, did you?”
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
shopwalker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “But I can’t sing a note now, Madame Latour,” said Joyce.
singer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You did n’t know I was so philosophical, did you?”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
There's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I am a singer, I can only think of the profession.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You did n’t know I was so philosophical, did you?”
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “If I had been a milliner, I should have thought what a gentlemanly shopwalker you would have made.
Yvonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There’s nothing like leather,” cried Yvonne, gaily.