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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 Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
acquaintances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
almost
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From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
AMBASSADOR
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From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
AMERICAN
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From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
approaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
brief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
Conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
eager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
host's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
inquiries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
interspersed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
languish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
Obviously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
paved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
periods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
spasmodic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Obviously he had come with something to say; almost as obviously he seemed to find a certain difficulty in approaching the subject.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR Conversation had begun to languish between the two men.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
Vine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all the time Vine had said nothing as to the real object of his visit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was his host, after all, who paved the way.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Vine had answered all his host's inquiries about old friends and acquaintances on the other side, inquiries at first eager, then more spasmodic, until at last they were interspersed with brief periods of silence.