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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 She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
Alvina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
back-yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
bare-headednounUS /ˈbare-headed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
blue-brick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
chastened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
Ciccio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
Ciccio's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
driving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
FALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
gardens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
HOUSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
MANCHESTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
mandoline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
mixedverbUS /mɪkst/
involved with or connected to
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
nasal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
plaintive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
streak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
twitching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
vista
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
wailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak of sunshine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive nasal sound of Ciccio’s mandoline.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain.
wistful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE Alvina rose chastened and wistful.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked down the mixed vista of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching away at the wailing mandoline.
