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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 In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
bees
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
boy
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
common
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From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
composed
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
county
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
died
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From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
elbowed
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From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
enough
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From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
family
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
four
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
girl
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
goodness
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From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
hive
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From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
honey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
how
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From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
human
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From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
knows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
locality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The father's father had lived there and died there; the father had been married from there; and the children had been born there.
Marvel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
Middlesex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
other's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
overcrowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
owned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
parish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
Stepney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
surprising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
throng
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some of them made just enough to live upon; and a good many of them, now and then, ran a little short.
toes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
trod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The bees in the locality, who elbowed each other and trod upon each other's toes, were poor and common bees, and did not make much honey.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading In the parish of Stepney, in the county of Middlesex, there lived, amidst the hundreds of thousands of human bees who throng that overcrowded locality, a family composed of four persons--mother, father, and two children, boy and girl--who owned the surprising name of Marvel.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had lived in their hive for goodness knows how many years.