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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 My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
abstract
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From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
any
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From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
apt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
call
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From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
camel's-hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
cunningest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
definite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
finest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
haunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was not left without society.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
lack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
landlord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was not left without society.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
Lizzie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was not left without society.
notes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
painter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
pencils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
portrait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
pursue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
quality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
remains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was not left without society.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
spiritualised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
trick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading But faces have a trick of growing more and more spiritualised and abstract in the memory, until nothing remains of them but a look, a haunting expression; just that secret quality in a face that is apt to slip out somehow under the cunningest painter’s touch, and leave the portrait dead for the lack of it.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was not left without society.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My landlord had a very pretty little daughter, whom we shall call Lizzie.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I was not left without society.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if it is hard to catch with the finest of camel’s-hair pencils, you may think how hopeless it must be to pursue after it with clumsy words.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If I had made any notes at the time, I might be able to tell you something definite of her appearance.
