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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 His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
Albinia's
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From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
always
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
appeared
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From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
bachelor
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
beaming
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From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
bodies
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
bright
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From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
Bury
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
Colonel
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
Colonel's
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From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
conceive
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
country
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
day
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From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
dining-room
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
dinner-parties
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
dissipated
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From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
face
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From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
Ferrars
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From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
fertile
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From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
few
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
friend
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From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
friends
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
full
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
girlhood
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From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
glad
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
heirnounUS /er/
A person legally or magically entitled to the property or rank of another on that person's death.
From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
invitation
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From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
mamma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
married
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From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
Mary
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From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
meant
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
meet
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
most
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
nephew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
newly
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From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
occasions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
old
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
open-hearted
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From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
overflowed
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
parties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
peremptory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
possibility
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From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His imagination never could conceive the possibility of everybody not being glad to meet everybody, his house could never be too full, his dinner-parties of ‘a few friends’ overflowed the dining-room, and his ‘nobody’ meant always at least six bodies.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Colonel Bury was the most open-hearted old bachelor in the country.
wedding
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From this reading His nephew and heir had newly married a friend of Albinia’s girlhood, and was about to pay his wedding visit.
Willow-Lawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading One bright summer day, his beaming face appeared at Willow-Lawn with a peremptory invitation.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every season was fertile in occasions of gathering old and young together to be made happy, and little Mary Ferrars, at five years old, had told her mamma that ‘the Colonel’s parties made her quite dissipated.’