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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 HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
absorbed
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From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
ahead
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
betray
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From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
black
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From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
blended
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
blotch
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
blotted
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From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
bluish
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
chance
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From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
darkness
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
denser
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
destroy
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From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
detect
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From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
dim
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
dissolving
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
down
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
eyes
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From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
figure
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
frost
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
glimmer
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
guide
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From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
HABAKKUK'S
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From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
hyperborean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
LIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
Miles
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From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
obscurity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
overtake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
prowled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
reflection
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From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
sailor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
showed
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
slope
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From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No light, no sound, could either guide or betray him.
Stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
straining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
stride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
suffusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
truth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse had been to stride along, to overtake and question the sailor; but so, reflection told him, he might destroy his only chance to learn the truth.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the dim light before night or sunrise
From this reading The figure ahead showed as a blotch of denser twilight, dissolving, rather than moving, down the slope.
undergrowth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HABAKKUK’S LIGHT Stars, frost, and glimmer of snow blended into a bluish, dim suffusion, a hyperborean obscurity that was neither light nor darkness.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Miles prowled after, straining his eyes to detect in what quarter of the black undergrowth it was absorbed and blotted.
