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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 For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
almost
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
attenuated-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
black
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From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
brown
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
calling
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From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
came
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From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
certainly
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From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
cheeks
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
chin
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
collar
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From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
color
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
density
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
effort
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
endeavoring
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
frock-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
grew
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From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
hairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
Harold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
high
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From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
John's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
medium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
necktie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
produce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
serious-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
shortly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
sparsely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
stiff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
twenty-four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, shortly after that, Harold came into John's room, saying that he wanted to speak to him in private.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was slightly above medium height, quite thin, and attenuated-looking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
whiskers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wore the black frock-coat, high, stiff collar, and black necktie of his calling.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a man of less than twenty-four years of age he certainly was grave and serious-looking.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was endeavoring to produce a show of whiskers on his cheeks and chin, but the effort was almost in vain, for the hairs grew sparsely and were of a color between yellow and light brown that did not make for density of appearance.
