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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 Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
apartments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
beard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
bulldog
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From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
car
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From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
caution
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From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
charge
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From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
chauffeur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
degree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
entering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
improve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
insistent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
Janet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
jaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
mission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
moderate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
neighboring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
Payson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
Payson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
removal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
removed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
seriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
Shelby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
sinister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
slipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
sounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
thin-lipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
touring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
Vandyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.