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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 ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
acute
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From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
also
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From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
Apparently
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From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
bell-rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/
A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
chair
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From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
clear
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From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
conclude
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From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
crept
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From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
days
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From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
distance
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From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
entering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
fireside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
Instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
intruder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
listened
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From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
Mabin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
man's
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From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
old-fashioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
pause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
perceptions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
rendered
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From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
screaming
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From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
solve
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From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
stealthily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
stimulating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
There
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From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
unconsciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, therefore, of screaming, or stretching out her hand to the old-fashioned bell-rope which hung by the fireside at a little distance from her right hand, she waited, watched, and listened.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But her mind had been rendered more clear, her perceptions more acute, by the stimulating mystery which she had been for the past two days trying to solve.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently she had unconsciously made some slight noise as she turned in her chair to look behind her, for the intruder, whoever he was, instead of entering, waited and listened also.
withdrawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a pause; and then the hand which had crept so stealthily round the door was slowly and quietly withdrawn.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the ordinary course of things, it would have been natural for Mabin to conclude, on seeing a man’s hand inside her door in the middle of the night, that the intruder was a burglar.
