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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 He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
according
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From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
altered
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
altogether
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From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
appointment
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From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
artist
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
attired
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
best
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
bleached
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
bloodshot
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
brilliancy
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
certain
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
chalky
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
closet
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
drawing
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From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
eight
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From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
eye
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
fashion
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
friend
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From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
guest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
haggard
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From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
heights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
inclined
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From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
lawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
less
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From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
like
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
mercantile
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
Michael
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
perhaps
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
previous
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From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
professor
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From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
Punctually
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From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
rattled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
rule
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From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
sadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
studio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
stylish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Punctually at eight o’clock next morning the lawyer rattled (according to previous appointment) on the studio door.
Today
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Today he had fallen altogether from these heights.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/
something that needs very little effort
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
wandering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
wires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Michael was usually attired in the height of fashion, with a certain mercantile brilliancy best described perhaps as stylish; nor could anything be said against him, as a rule, but that he looked a trifle too like a wedding guest to be quite a gentleman.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor was the professor of drawing less inclined to wonder at his friend.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found the artist sadly altered for the worse--bleached, bloodshot, and chalky--a man upon wires, the tail of his haggard eye still wandering to the closet.
