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The Shuttle
The Shuttle

Chapter V

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Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.
This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.
That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.
There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.
In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Shuttle

Chapter V

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.
Line 2
This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.
Line 3
That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.
Line 4
There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.
Line 5
In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.”

Mortal adjective US /ˈmɔːrtəl/

causing or relating to death

From this reading “That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.”

All words in this reading · 102

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

abnormal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

absolute

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

apart

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

appears

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

beauty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

beings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

bestowal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

bestowed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

Bettina

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

billions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

called

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

case

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

cross

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

discovery

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

doubt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

ENDOWMENT

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

entire

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

exists

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

extent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

extraordinary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

given

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

human

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

inevitably

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

latter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

lifetime

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

looks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

mere

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

million

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

millions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

causing or relating to death

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

natural

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

once

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

one's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

owner

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

pathway

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

personable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

physical

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

places

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

plane

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

possess

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

prettiness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

pretty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

probably

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

rare

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

really

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

result

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

rumours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

seems

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

set

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

statistics

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

taken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

There

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

truth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the latter case it is natural to doubt the absolute truth of the rumours that the thing exists.

unbounded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

UNFAIR

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

Vanderpoel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

wealth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That it should be bestowed at all--since it is so rare--seems as unfair a thing as appears to the mere mortal mind the bestowal of unbounded wealth, since it quite as inevitably places the life of its owner upon an abnormal plane.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading AN UNFAIR ENDOWMENT To Bettina Vanderpoel had been given, to an extraordinary extent, the extraordinary thing which is called beauty--which is a thing entirely set apart from mere good looks or prettiness.

woman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

women

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are millions of pretty women, and billions of personable men, but the man or woman of entire physical beauty may cross one's pathway only once in a lifetime--or not at all.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading This thing is extraordinary because, if statistics were taken, the result would probably be the discovery that not three human beings in a million really possess it.