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advice
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
affection
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From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
all
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
also
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
altogether
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
always
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/
to reach or total a particular quantity or value
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
annoyance
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
anxious
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
assert
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
authority
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
averred
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
back
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
case
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
children
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From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
chimed
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
companionable
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
days
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
didn't
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
dogs
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
equable
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
followed
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
four
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
frankly
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
gifts
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
Graham
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
grown
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
inclinations
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
interested
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
Jim
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
lavished
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From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
LIFEnounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
live
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
love
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From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
maternal
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
mother
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
Mountfield
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
Mrs
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
Muriel
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
nature
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
other
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
overburdened
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
own
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From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
people's
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
points
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
preferred
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From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
pursuits
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
ready
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
requirednounUS /required/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
sensible
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
showing
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
small
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From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
some
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
spirit
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
spite
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From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
surprising
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
sympathy
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From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
taken
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
then
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
three
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From this reading It was not altogether surprising then that Jim, when he had been back at Mountfield for three or four days, should have taken her into his confidence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the case of other people's children she frankly averred that she didn't understand them and preferred dogs.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But she was equable by nature and had companionable gifts, and as Jim and Muriel had grown up they had found their mother pleasant to live with, never anxious to assert authority, and always interested in such of their pursuits as chimed in with her own inclinations; also quite ready with sensible advice and some sympathy when either was required of her, and showing no annoyance at all if the advice was not followed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She had little love for children as children, and when her own were small she had lavished no great amount of affection on them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE LIFE Mrs. Graham, in spite of her good points, was not overburdened with the maternal spirit.
