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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 In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
accountsnounUS /ˈaccounts/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
actually
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From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
amazement
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From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
armies
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
arrived
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From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
away
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From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
baby
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From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
back
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From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
Bagota
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From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
beauty
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From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
busily
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
change
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From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
collecting
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
command
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
Cornichon
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
courtiers
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From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
daughter
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From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
declared
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From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
elderly
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From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
fact
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From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
faded
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From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
famous
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
forces
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
general
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
genius
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From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
head
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
joke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
Kristopo
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From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
lady
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From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
lovely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
meantimenounUS /ˈmiːntaɪm/
the period of time while something else is happening
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
middle-aged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
older
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
parted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
Ratibouf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
Selnozoura
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
summoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
Toupette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
Toupette's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
travellers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had never seen their daughter since they parted from her as a baby, but from time to time travellers to Bagota had brought back accounts of her beauty.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Kristopo, hardly less astonished than they were at the sudden change, thought that it was a joke on the part of one of his courtiers, who had hidden Toupette away, and put this elderly lady in her place.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In the meantime both sides had been busily collecting armies, and Kristopo had given the command of his to a famous general, while Selnozoura had placed Cornichon at the head of her forces.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But before war was actually declared, Toupette’s parents, who had been summoned by the genius, arrived at Ratibouf.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What was their amazement, therefore, at finding, instead of a lovely girl, a middle-aged woman, handsome indeed, but quite faded--looking, in fact, older than themselves.