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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 NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
actually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
afterwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
audience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
congratulations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
eggproof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
enthusiastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
footlights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
introduce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
Maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
Myra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
Rat-catcher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
scenes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE NIGHT The play was a great success; I know, because many of the audience told me so afterwards.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As you may remember, the _Rat-catcher_ (Me) and the _Maid_ (Myra) take the stage first, and they introduce themselves in the usual way to the audience and each other.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For as near as a touch we had to drop the eggproof curtain and hand the money back.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had they but guessed what was going on behind the scenes, the congratulations would have been even more enthusiastic.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I am going to give you the opening scene as it was actually said--not as it was heard across the footlights--and then you will understand.
