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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 So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
absolutely
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
any
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
BIRD'S
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
box
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
chance
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From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
companion
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
contained
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From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
crowd
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
curiosity
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From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
distinguish
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
down
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
dresses
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
edge
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From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
elbows
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From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
exactly
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
finding
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From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
full
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From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
gazed
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From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
gazing
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
Gerald
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
given
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From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
hoping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
Leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
longed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
masker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
merriment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
others
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From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
packet
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From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
pardonable
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From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
proved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
reckless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
recognize
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
revelry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
saw
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From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
SHOWS
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
similar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
strange
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From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
supper-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
TALONS
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From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They might of course be in one or other of the supper-rooms, and I saw from the first that there was but little chance of finding them.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
transferred
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From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
Ulrica
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So great a crowd was there, and so many dresses exactly similar, that to distinguish Ulrica or Gerald, or, indeed, any of the others, proved absolutely impossible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The packet he had given me I had transferred to my pocket, and with pardonable curiosity I longed to open it and see what it contained.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaning my elbows on the edge of the box, I gazed down upon the scene of reckless merriment, but my thoughts were full of the strange words uttered by the mysterious masker.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading SHOWS THE BIRD’S TALONS For some little time after my mysterious companion had left I sat forward in the box, gazing down at the wild revelry below, and hoping that one or other of the party would recognize me.
