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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 That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
accustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
Anita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
break-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
carved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
clock-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
clutch-clutch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
controlled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
cousin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
crying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
flow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
good-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
Great-aunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
Howe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
incessant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
jerkiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
palm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
red-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
shaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
sharpening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
staccato
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Anita wasn’t looking at me and she wasn’t crying.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her little sharp face looked as controlled as if it were carved.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I suppose Great-aunt must have known what she was talking about; but it wasn’t easy to imagine my cousin soft and red-eyed like that great, good-natured Miss Howe.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That showed in the jerkiness of her movements, the sharpening of her voice, in the break-up of her accustomed flow of words into staccato, like a river that has come to some rocks: and her hands had a clock-work, incessant movement, clutch-clutch, fingers on palm, that her eyes repeated.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, as she said herself, she was shaken.
