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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 A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
alarming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
all
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From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
approaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
army's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
Brentford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
bribe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
cavalrymen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
cold-blooded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
concerning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
Confederate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
Deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
FRIEND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
Get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
hastily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
hoof-strokes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
horsemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
information
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
Lyon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
Major
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
NEEDnounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
preferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
proposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
sounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
spy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
Union
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FRIEND IN NEED Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching.
wring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of the pistol.
yonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road.
