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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 There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
attractive
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From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
beads
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From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
betray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
betrayed
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From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
black
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From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
came
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
Chelsea
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From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
dance
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From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
danced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
dealt
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
encouragement
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
enough
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
experimental
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
fill
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From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
flattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
freedom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
gravely
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
hinting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
Huntley's
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From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
indecisive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
instrument
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
intellectual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
Joan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
listened
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From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
moody
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
nondescript
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
oppressive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
passion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
pose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
pretending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
skirts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
theorized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
treated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
undergraduate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
unwittingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was handsome that night in black velvet and silver that betrayed much natural grace; Joan was a nondescript in black and red, with short skirts and red beads about her pretty neck.
void
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Huntley’s earlier pose of an intellectual friend was attractive and flattering; then he began to betray passion, as it were, unwittingly.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a fancy dress dance at Chelsea—and he danced almost as well as Joan—he became moody.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading There were moments when he seemed to be pretending to fill that oppressive void; moments when he seemed only to be hinting at himself as a possible instrument of freedom.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Joan listened to him gravely enough so long as he theorized; when he came to personal things she treated him with the same experimental and indecisive encouragement that she dealt out to her undergraduate friends.
