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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 Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
attitude
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
bequests
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
changed
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
circumstances
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
comparison
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
cryptic
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
cut
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From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
down
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From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
dozen
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
drawer
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
ease
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
envelopes
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
experiments
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From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
Farley's
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From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
frequently
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
happily
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From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
identification
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
importuned
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
increased
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From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
infirmities
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From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
influenced
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
institutions
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
irritated
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From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
kept
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
knew
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From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
LASTnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
lawyer
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From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
legacy
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From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
made
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
marks
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
most
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
Mrs
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
Nan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
numbers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
old
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
patience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
penciled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
revisions
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From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
room
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From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
sewing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
taxed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
TESTAMENTS
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From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
Thurston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
trivial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He penciled cryptic marks on the various envelopes for ease of identification, and he was influenced often by the most trivial circumstances in his revisions.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading If Nan irritated him, he cut down her legacy; when things went happily, he increased it.
will-writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
WILLS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LAST WILLS AND TESTAMENTS From the beginning of his infirmities Farley’s experiments in will-writing had taxed the patience of Thurston, his lawyer.
WithinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was importuned to make bequests to great numbers of institutions, by men and women he knew well, and his attitude toward these changed frequently.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Within two years he had made a dozen wills, and he kept them for comparison in a secret drawer of Mrs. Farley’s old sewing-table in his room.
