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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 WINNING A MEDAL.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
apartment
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From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
baby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
better
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From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
bewilderednounUS /bewildered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
came
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From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
choked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
confuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
Fernald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
gasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
grip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
headquarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
inhaling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
instructor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
Josh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
lectures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
MEDAL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINNING A MEDAL.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
screams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
seconds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
Seth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
smoke-laden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
sobbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
soothe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
stifling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
struggles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
suffocate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
violently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
vital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
WINNING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINNING A MEDAL.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.