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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 He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
all
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From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
apex
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From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
bulk
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From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
challenge
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
choice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
cumulative
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
disjointed
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
dome
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From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
due
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
emotion
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
fantastic
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
form
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From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
foundations
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From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
hideously
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From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
immense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
impress
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From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
impressiveness
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
inadequate
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From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
instance
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From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
juste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
kind
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
LooknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
loose
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
majestic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
mass
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From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
meant
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
merely
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From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
monuments
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From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
mot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
much
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
opposition
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
outline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
produced
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
Pyramids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Look at the choice of form alone--the Pyramids, for instance.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
said
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
somewhere
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From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
spires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.
symmetry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ‘The monuments do not impress merely by their bulk, but by their majestic symmetry,’ I remember him saying.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He talked in a loose, disjointed way, and though much he said was fantastic, as if meant to challenge opposition, there was impressiveness about it somewhere, due, I think, to a kind of cumulative emotion he produced.
wedge-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The wedge-shaped mass, immense foundations and pointed apex were the _mot juste_ in outline.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No other shape was possible: dome, square, spires, all would have been hideously inadequate.