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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 What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
away
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From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
Bertha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
compliment
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From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
confused
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From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
corner
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From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
face
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From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
felt
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From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
few
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From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
friendly
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From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
fro
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From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
given
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From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
happier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
ices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
jest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
murmur
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From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
reflections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
seconds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
supper-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
Tredennis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The murmur of voices and passing to and fro confused him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was of Bertha these people had been speaking--of Bertha, and it was Bertha he could see through the open doors of the supper-room, eating ices, listening to compliment and laughter and jest!
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They moved away and went to the supper-room themselves, leaving Tredennis to his reflections.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What these were he scarcely knew himself for a few seconds.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
willing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For half an hour of quiet in some friendly corner, where none could see his face, he felt that he would have given a year or so of his life--perhaps a greater number of years than a happier man would have been willing to part with.