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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 very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
Aileen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
angularity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
Butler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
Butler's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
dark-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
dark-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
departed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
detective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
dinner-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
favorite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
hawk-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
inquiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
leathery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
mornin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
noticeable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
pretending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
preternaturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
ruse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
sallow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
shown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
Sissy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
solemn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Did any one drive Sissy this mornin’?” asked Butler of Aileen, inquiring after a favorite family horse.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That evening he came to the Butler house around dinner-time, and, being shown into Butler’s room, was given a look at Aileen by a ruse.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The detective stood behind one of the heavy curtains which had already been put up for the winter, pretending to look out into the street.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The very next day there called at Butler’s office a long, preternaturally solemn man of noticeable height and angularity, dark-haired, dark-eyed, sallow, with a face that was long and leathery, and particularly hawk-like, who talked with Butler for over an hour and then departed.
yield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Butler sent for her, standing in the doorway just far enough to one side to yield a good view of her.
