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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 She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
accounting
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From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
announced
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From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
barometer
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From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
boudoir
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From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
bracing
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
chills
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
clear
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From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
damp
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
darkening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
discipline
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
discomfort
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
doorstep
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From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
dusk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
EYES
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From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
fall
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From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
fire
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From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
Five
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
frosts
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From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
GEORGE'S
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From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
hardy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
Hilda
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From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
Hulton
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From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
increased
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
inhabitants
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
mud
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
November
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
piercing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
piquancy
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From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
pleasure
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
prospect
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
rainstorms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
roofs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
sleet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
smuts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading GEORGE’S EYES I Hilda sat alone in the boudoir, before the fire.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
tonic
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
Towns
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From this reading The hardy inhabitants of the Five Towns, Hilda among them, were bracing themselves to the discipline of winter, with its mud, increased smuts, sleet, and damp, piercing chills; and they were taking pleasure in the tonic prospect of discomfort.
uniform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
unsuited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
wearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The November afternoon had passed into dusk, and through the window, over the roofs of Hulton Street, stars could be seen in a darkening clear sky.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a very sharp fall and rise of the barometer, accounting for heavy rainstorms, the first frosts were announced, and winter was on the doorstep.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just come out of the kitchen, and she was wearing the white uniform of the kitchen, unsuited for a boudoir; but she wore it with piquancy.