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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 The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
anxious
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From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
apprenticed
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From this reading As a child he was apprenticed to a cobbler.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
assassin
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
attracted
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
bending
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
birth
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
blue
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
Chamber
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
cheeks
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
child
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From this reading As a child he was apprenticed to a cobbler.
chocolates
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
cigarettes
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
city
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
cobbler
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From this reading As a child he was apprenticed to a cobbler.
commendatore
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
comment
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
country
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
curly
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
Deputies
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
Don
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
enemies
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
eyes
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
familiarly
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
favourable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
figures
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
Giustino
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
impressive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
liked
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From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
low
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
member
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
mend
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From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
Morena
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
most
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From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
much
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From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
passers-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
pavement
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From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
People
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
precocious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
product
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
prominent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
retorts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
rosy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
secured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
shoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
shop-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
Southerner
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From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
supply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
teach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From low surroundings he had risen to be a prominent member of the Chamber of Deputies and one of the most impressive figures in the country.
unfailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The commendatore Giustino Morena--familiarly known as Don Giustino or, by his enemies, as "the assassin"--was a Southerner by birth, a city product.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading People liked him so much that he quickly learned not only how to mend shoes but a good many other things which they were anxious to teach him.
winning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, bending over his work on the pavement outside the shop-door, his blue eyes and curly fair hair, his rosy cheeks, his winning smile, his precocious retorts, attracted the most favourable comment from the passers-by and secured him an unfailing supply of chocolates and cigarettes.
