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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 A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
amazement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clerk looked up at him in amazement.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
Café
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
cashier's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clerk looked up at him in amazement.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
commissionaire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
d'hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
drove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
entrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
hall-porter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
hesitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The clerk looked up at him in amazement.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
Hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
interior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
Late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
Laverick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The clerk looked up at him in amazement.
maitre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
mechanical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
Milan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
motor-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
noddednounUS /nodded/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
packet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
plain-clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
policemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
purely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
receipt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
salute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
stamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
Stephen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
treated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not, for the moment, notice that the two men standing immediately behind bore the stamp of plain-clothes policemen.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A large closed motor-car drove up to the front entrance and several men descended, among whom was Laverick himself.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Late that afternoon the hall-porter at the Milan Hotel, the commissionaire, and the chief maitre d’hotel from the Café, who happened to be in the hall, together with several others around the place who knew Stephen Laverick by sight, were treated to an unexpected surprise.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He nodded to the hall-porter, whose salute was purely mechanical, and making his way without hesitation to the interior of the hotel, presented his receipt at the cashier’s desk and asked for his packet.
