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Chapter I

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Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."
They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.
What could Dr. Falconer mean?
Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.
It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Profiles

Chapter I

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."
Line 2
They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.
Line 3
What could Dr. Falconer mean?
Line 4
Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.
Line 5
It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “What could Dr. Falconer mean?”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “"AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."”

Length noun US /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading “It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “"AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."”

All words in this reading · 101

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

always

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

backed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

bid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

Burton

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

business

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

care

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

careful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

cheeks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

cleanliness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

color

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading What could Dr. Falconer mean?

dainty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

delicate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

Dr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What could Dr. Falconer mean?

earnest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

Elsie

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

exquisite

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

eyes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

face

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

Falconer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What could Dr. Falconer mean?

glanced

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

gleam

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

glow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

gone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

good-by

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

gracefully

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

hall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

hand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

held

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

hope

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

keep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

laughing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

managing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

mean

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What could Dr. Falconer mean?

meant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

nails

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

pastor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

probable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

puzzled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

rally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

rich

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

shaped

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

shapely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

smile

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

soil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

state

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

swiftly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

together

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

trying

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Elsie glanced swiftly down at her delicate, gracefully shaped hands, and then back to his face; he was not laughing; although there was a smile on his face, it was backed by an earnest gleam in his eyes that meant business.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What could Dr. Falconer mean?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was not probable that he was trying to rally her a little on the exquisite care which she took of those same hands, always managing to keep them in a state of dainty cleanliness, with the shapely nails of just the right length.

words

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They stood together in the hall, Elsie Burton and her pastor; he had held out his hand to bid her good-by, and added these words which brought a puzzled look to her eyes, and a rich glow of color to her cheeks.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "AND I hope, Elsie, you will be careful, all the while you are gone, not to soil your hands."