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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 And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
actual
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From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
agitation
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From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
anchor
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From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
appropriate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
beholding
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From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
crisis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
curiously
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From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
Erradeen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lord Erradeen!"
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
hallucination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
held
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From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
inappropriate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
incarnation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
instinctively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lord Erradeen!"
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
Oona
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
salvation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
specially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.
strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He took the hand which she instinctively put forward, into both his, and held fast by it as if it had been an anchor of salvation.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
unexpected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
Walter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And Walter was himself at so high a strain of excitement that the agitation of her surprise seemed natural to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His appearance was so unexpected, so curiously appropriate and inappropriate, that Oona felt as if she must be under some hallucination, and was beholding an incarnation of her own thoughts instead of an actual man.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It scarcely seemed possible that everybody around, and specially that she, did not know the crisis at which he stood.