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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 EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
abandoned
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From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
Alice
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From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But no such letter came.
calm
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From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
came
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From this reading But no such letter came.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
contrary
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From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
date
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From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
day
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From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
EASTMINSTER
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From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
letter
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From this reading But no such letter came.
like
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From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
looking
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From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
Northshire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
sense
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From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But no such letter came.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading EASTMINSTER The days that followed were, in a sense, like the calm before the threatened storm.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the contrary, when news did come it was news which astonished me.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As the date of my father’s promised return to Eastminster drew near, every day I expected to hear from Alice that he had abandoned his purpose, and that Northshire would see him no more.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You will be glad to hear,” Alice wrote, “that father came back last night looking better, although rather thin.
