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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 It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
addition
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From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
conference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
days
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From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
Detective
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From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
discussed
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From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
earlier
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From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
Eaton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
Eaton-Lathrup
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From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
eight
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From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
Ellers
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From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
Fenton
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From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
FirstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
Gallison
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From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
Grade
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From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
hadn't
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From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
Hansen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
included
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From this reading The eight, of course, included First Grade Detective Gallison and himself.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
Lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
Macklin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
Macklin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
matters
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From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
offices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
official
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.
original
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
precisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
repeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
strictly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It _was_ a conference ... in a strictly official sense.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It might have been a repeat of a conference that had taken place in the Eaton-Lathrup offices several days earlier, if twice the original number of people hadn't been present.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
weighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Fenton had made it plain that there were a number of weighty matters to be discussed and that he wished precisely eight people to be present.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the earlier conference, it was held in Macklin's office and in addition to Macklin, Eaton, young Hansen and Ellers, there were two women and two police officers present.