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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 five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
ashamedadjectiveUS /əˈʃeɪmd/
feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
attempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
battle
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From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
buffeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
capricious
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From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
clothes
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From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
conciliate
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From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
conclusion
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From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
deliberately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
ENGINEER
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From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
ExpressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
fight
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From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
five
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From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
football
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
hire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
impending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
Lightning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
mule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
PRESIDENT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
servility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENGINEER.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Besides, I was tired of being buffeted by him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
toes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
Tommy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was ashamed of my own servility, and much as I liked my occupation, I had deliberately come to the conclusion that it would be better for me to “hire out” for my board and clothes, than be a football for Tommy’s capricious toes.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
unreasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tommy was as unreasonable as a mule, and it was useless to attempt to conciliate him.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In five minutes it would be time for the Lightning Express train to start, and that was a very short time in which to fight the impending battle.
