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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 was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
Arnold
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From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
back
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From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
box
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
bravely
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
breaking
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
called
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From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
carried
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
caught
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
cigarette
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From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
clearly
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
cold
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From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
corner
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From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
dimly
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
evening
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From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
felt
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From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
firmly
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From this reading I set my teeth and held it firmly.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
glimpse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
hansom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
hate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set my teeth and held it firmly.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
Isobel's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
luxuries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I set my teeth and held it firmly.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set my teeth and held it firmly.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
steady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
steal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I lit a cigarette, and suddenly I felt a cold little hand steal into mine.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set my teeth and held it firmly.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
theatre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not often we permitted ourselves such luxuries, but as we left the theatre I caught a glimpse of Isobel's white face, more clearly visible now than in the dimly lit box, and I knew that, bravely though she had carried herself through the whole of that trying evening, she was not far from breaking down.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So I called a hansom, and she sank back in a corner with a little sigh of relief.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Arnold," she whispered, and her voice was none too steady, "I hate that woman.
