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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 Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
bell
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
Belsize
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From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
blind
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From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
bright
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From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
Cecily
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
Cecily's
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
DEFENDED
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From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
distinctly
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
door
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
Elgar
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
ending
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
few
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
front
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From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
hall
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
kind
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
library
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
lifeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
Light
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From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
made
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From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
maid-servant
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
Mr
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
once
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
opened
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From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
Park
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
PROPRIETIES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
rays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
reading-lamp
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From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
shone
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From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
sounded
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From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
sphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PROPRIETIES DEFENDED The house was in Belsize Park.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Cecily's ring at the bell sounded distinctly; it was answered at once by a maid-servant, who said that Mr. Elgar was still in the library.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Light shone through the blind of one of the upper windows, but the rest of the front was lifeless.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A reading-lamp made a bright sphere on the table, but no one sat within its rays.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having spoken a few words, ending with a kind good night, Cecily passed through the hall and opened the library door.