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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 They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
away
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
battering
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From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
big
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
clattering
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
closed
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
continue
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From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
darkness
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
darted
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From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
DEATH
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
Death's
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
flown
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From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
fluttered
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
garnished
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From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
hanging
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
Head
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
MADAM
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
man
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
moth
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
moths
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From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
night
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From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
obstinately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
other
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From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
out
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
persistently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
possessed
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From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
released
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
reply
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From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
robe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
sill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He supposed they had flown north; he had not looked out to see.
switch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
tissue
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From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had the other moths which he released done so, too?
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.
wings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What possessed the moth to continue battering its wings at the window of the room below?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They had darted out of his room into the night, each garnished with a tissue robe.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MADAM DEATH There was no reply, because the young man was hanging out over his window sill in the darkness trying to switch away, from her closed window below, the big, clattering Death’s Head moth which obstinately and persistently fluttered there.