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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 By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
apartment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
buccaneernounUS /ˌbʌkəˈnɪr/
a pirate or sea raider in a specific situation in this story
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
criminal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
electric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
GentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
hearthrug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
lawless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
likeness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
marble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
narrowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
pedestal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
Portrait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
powerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
quaint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
Rodin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
shielded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
statue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By his side, on a black marble pedestal, stood a small statue by Rodin.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
sunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
supercilious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something of the same spirit there--the lawless buccaneer, perhaps the criminal.
threshold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
Timothy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
Unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
Vandyck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Behind him, lit by a shielded electric light, was a Vandyck, “A Portrait of a Gentleman Unknown,” and Francis, as he hesitated for a moment upon the threshold, was struck by a sudden quaint likeness between the face of the man in the picture, with his sunken cheeks, his supercilious smile, his narrowed but powerful eyes, to the face of Sir Timothy himself.
wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sir Timothy was standing upon the hearthrug of the very wonderful apartment which he called his library.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You asked for me, Sir Timothy,” Francis said.
