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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 It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
ambassadress
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From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
ball
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From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
bowed
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From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
ceilings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
changes
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From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
compared
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From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
conception
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From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
curious
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From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
curtseyed
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From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
diminished
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From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
English
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From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
especially
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From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
gave
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From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
grandeur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
interval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
Langton-Courtenay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
magnificent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
mortification
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
rushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
shrunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
suite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Even a short absence changes most curiously this first conception of grandeur.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading When Kate ran into Langton-Courtenay on her return, rushing through the row of new servants, who bowed and curtseyed in the hall, her sense of mortification and disappointment was intense.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything had shrunken somehow; the rooms were smaller, the ceilings lower, the whole place diminished.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Were these the rooms which she had compared in her mind with the suite in which the English ambassadress gave her ball?
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious sensation to return, after a long interval, to the home of one’s youth, especially if one has had very great ideas of that home, and thought it magnificent.
