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1757
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
acquaintance
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
active
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
America
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
appears
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
appointed
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
befitting
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From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
cadets
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
chair
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
children
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
company
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
concluded
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From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
considerable
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
distinguished
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
documents
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From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
enemy
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
England
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
English
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
fashionable
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
figure
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
fought
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
French
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
furniture
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
gay
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
going
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
governor
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
Grandfather
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
head
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
high
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
history
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
London
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From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
made
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
marching
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
Massachusetts
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
more
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
new
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
newspapers
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From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
NOW
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
official
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
period
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
piece
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
Pownall
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
praiseworthy
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
private
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
probably
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From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
said
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
Shirley
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From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
some
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From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
summoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
taken
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From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new governor appears to have taken no active part in the war that was going on; although, at one period, he talked of marching against the enemy at the head of his company of cadets.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
Thomas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
War
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “In 1757,” said Grandfather, “after Shirley had been summoned to England, Thomas Pownall was appointed governor of Massachusetts.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading NOW THAT Grandfather had fought through the old French War, in which our chair made no very distinguished figure, he thought it high time to tell the children some of the more private history of that praiseworthy old piece of furniture.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, on the whole, he probably concluded that it was more befitting a governor to remain quietly in our chair, reading the newspapers and official documents.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a gay and fashionable English gentleman, who had spent much of his life in London, but had a considerable acquaintance with America.
