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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 First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
abbé
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What is that?” inquired the abbé.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/
any person at all
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
break
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
breast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am a priest, and confessions die in my breast.
Caderousse
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From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
confessions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am a priest, and confessions die in my breast.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
die
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am a priest, and confessions die in my breast.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Make yourself easy, my friend,” replied the abbé.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
FirstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Make yourself easy, my friend,” replied the abbé.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I am a priest, and confessions die in my breast.
inquirednounUS /ˈinquired/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “What is that?” inquired the abbé.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “What is that?” inquired the abbé.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Make yourself easy, my friend,” replied the abbé.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
powerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
priest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am a priest, and confessions die in my breast.
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Make yourself easy, my friend,” replied the abbé.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
supplied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What is that?” inquired the abbé.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “What is that?” inquired the abbé.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
tips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What is that?” inquired the abbé.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “Why, if you ever make use of the details I am about to give you, that you will never let anyone know that it was I who supplied them; for the persons of whom I am about to talk are rich and powerful, and if they only laid the tips of their fingers on me, I should break to pieces like glass.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading First, sir,” said Caderousse, “you must make me a promise.”
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “Make yourself easy, my friend,” replied the abbé.