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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 If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
acquiescence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
authority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
boards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
bushel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
Circumlocution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
correspondence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
Department
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
equallynounUS /ˈequally/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
family-vault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
Government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
Gunpowder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
justified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
knows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
largest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
lighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
memoranda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
Office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
official
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
parliament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
pie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
plainest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
Plot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
possibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
sacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
saving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
smallest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
tart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
undo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
ungrammatical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
