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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 Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
announcement
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From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
apart
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From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
apartments
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From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
clause
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From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
closely
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From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
common
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From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
desired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
desirousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪərəs/
having a strong wish to do or obtain something
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
explained
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From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
foreign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
interruptions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
Jones
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From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
knocker
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From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
lodging-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
military
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
noises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
note
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From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
Perhaps
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From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
politest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
sedate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
shaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
solitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
tender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had (he explained) a friend, a gentleman in tender health, desirous of a sedate and solitary life, apart from interruptions and the noises of the common lodging-house.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This,” I said, “is the place for Mr. Jones.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
unusual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
wearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps a week had passed before he was again startled by the note of the knocker.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading A gentleman of a somewhat foreign and somewhat military air, yet closely shaven and wearing a soft hat, desired in the politest terms to visit the apartments.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘The unusual clause,’ he continued, ‘in your announcement, particularly struck me.
