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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 I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
alter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
anticipated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
conceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
critical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
delay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
eager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
extremity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
graven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
imminent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
insipid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
miserable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
Northmour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
pavilion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
persuaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
precipitate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
recollection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
suspense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even talk became impossible, as the hours went on.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I have never been an eager, though always a great, reader; but I never knew books so insipid as those which I took up and cast aside that afternoon in the pavilion.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The recollection of that afternoon will always be graven on my mind.
worst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Northmour and I were persuaded that an attack was imminent; and if it had been in our power to alter in any way the order of events, that power would have been used to precipitate rather than delay the critical moment.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The worst was to be anticipated; yet we could conceive no extremity so miserable as the suspense we were now suffering.
