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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 People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
alike
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
almost
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
approach
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
beeches
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
birch
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
catch
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
caught
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
distinct
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
divining
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From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
down
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
drawing
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
essential
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From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
favorite
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
fellows
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
forest
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
horse
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
How
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
inaccurate
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
individual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
individuality
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
instance
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
instinct
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From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
knew
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
lessons
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
lime
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
ludicrous
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
oak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
often
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
paint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
painting
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
People
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From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
perception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
Personality
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
puzzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
qualities
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From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
rendering
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
special
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He understood them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People asked him down to paint a favorite lime or silver birch, for he caught the individuality of a tree as some catch the individuality of a horse.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He painted trees as by some special divining instinct of their essential qualities.
true
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From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
understood
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From this reading He understood them.
utterly
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From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
vivid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.
wildly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he managed it was something of a puzzle, for he never had painting lessons, his drawing was often wildly inaccurate, and, while his perception of a Tree Personality was true and vivid, his rendering of it might almost approach the ludicrous.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew why in an oak forest, for instance, each individual was utterly distinct from its fellows, and why no two beeches in the whole world were alike.