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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 During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
barefoot
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
beads
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
bed
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From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
built
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
business
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From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
carpenter
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From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
cheap
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From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
clean
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From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
competitors
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From this reading His competitors said he was insane.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
counting
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
counts
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
crazy
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From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
day
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From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
Franciscan
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
Francisco
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From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
hotel
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From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
hotels
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
idea
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
insane
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From this reading His competitors said he was insane.
invested
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From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
knowing
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From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
like
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From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
linen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
lodgings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
named
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From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
notion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
owned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
persisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
Reno
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
Rolkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
Sacramento
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His competitors said he was insane.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
savings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
survive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had a “crazy notion” that he could put clean linen on every bed every day in this cheap place and survive.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He persisted, however, and on that “crazy idea” he built a string of fine hotels that he counts to-day like a barefoot Franciscan counting his beads.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was owned by a man named Rolkin, a carpenter, who invested his small savings in it knowing nothing about the hotel business.
workingman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During my stay in San Francisco I lived at the Reno House, a small workingman’s lodgings in Sacramento Street.