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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 MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
afterwards
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
announced
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From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
attention
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
back
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From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
Baron
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
BEHINDprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
butler
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "You can show him in at once," Peter replied.
card
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
carelessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
completely
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From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
curious
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
CURTAIN
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
de
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
denotes
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From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
face
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From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
flood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.
glanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
Grost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
immersed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
MAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You can show him in at once," Peter replied.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
Peter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You can show him in at once," Peter replied.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "You can show him in at once," Peter replied.
rigidity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The servant withdrew.
setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You can show him in at once," Peter replied.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter, during those few minutes of waiting, stood with his back to the room and his face to the window, looking out across the square, in reality seeing nothing, completely immersed in this strange flood of memories.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN Baron de Grost glanced at the card which his butler had brought in to him, carelessly at first, afterwards with that curious rigidity of attention which usually denotes the setting free of a flood of memories.
withdrew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The servant withdrew.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "The gentleman would like to see you, sir," the man announced.