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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 CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
abnormal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
aisle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
announcement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
bachelor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
Boldwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
bough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
cathedral
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From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
Christmas
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From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
Christmas-Eve
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From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
CONVERGING
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From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
COURSES
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From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
croquet-playing
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From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
doubt
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From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
giver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
incongruous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
jovial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
mistletoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
much-respected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
parish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
parties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
rarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
suspended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That the party was intended to be a truly jovial one there was no room for doubt.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The announcement had had an abnormal and incongruous sound, as if one should hear of croquet-playing in a cathedral aisle, or that some much-respected judge was going upon the stage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
Weatherbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONVERGING COURSES I. Christmas-Eve came, and a party that Boldwood was to give in the evening was the great subject of talk in Weatherbury.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not that the rarity of Christmas parties in the parish made this one a wonder, but that Boldwood should be the giver.
woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large bough of mistletoe had been brought from the woods that day, and suspended in the hall of the bachelor’s home.
