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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 That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
age
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From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
any
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From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
bent
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From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
bowing
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
button-hole
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
Certainly
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From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
clutched
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From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
Dorian
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
drawing-room
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
dressed
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
ease
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From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
easy
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From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
eight-thirty
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
exquisitely
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
finely
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From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
fingers
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From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
forehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
God
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From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
goodness
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From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
graceful
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From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
Gray
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
hostess's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
Lady
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
large
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
maddened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
Narborough's
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From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
Parma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
sin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those finely shaped fingers could never have clutched a knife for sin, nor those smiling lips have cried out on God and goodness.
throbbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly no one looking at Dorian Gray that night could have believed that he had passed through a tragedy as horrible as any tragedy of our age.
ushered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
violets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
wearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That evening, at eight-thirty, exquisitely dressed and wearing a large button-hole of Parma violets, Dorian Gray was ushered into Lady Narborough’s drawing-room by bowing servants.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Perhaps one never seems so much at one’s ease as when one has to play a part.
wildly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading His forehead was throbbing with maddened nerves, and he felt wildly excited, but his manner as he bent over his hostess’s hand was as easy and graceful as ever.
