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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 Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
cigar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
condemned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
connived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
darkest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
fortunes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
happens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
King
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
Lucien
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
pardon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
preferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
priest's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
secretary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
sentence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
Spaniard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
Spanish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
States-General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is right,” he thought; “I can take my life at any time.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lucien took a cigar and lit it, Spanish fashion, at the priest’s cigar.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Here was the handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death, and his case the more desperate because, as he had been condemned by the States-General, the King could not pardon him, but he connived at his escape.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “That is what I wished to tell you, but I preferred to prove it by a case in point.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It often happens that a young man’s fortunes take a turn when despair is darkest,” the Spaniard continued.
