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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 He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
adversary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
AIRSHIP
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From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
ally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
backed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
Ben
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
closely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
Dave's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
encounters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
fence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
IDEA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
lashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
latter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
lesson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy seated on the fence did not move, however, and Dave himself did not press Ben closely.
Shallock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE AIRSHIP IDEA Ben backed to the fence.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The latter decided that his adversary had learned his lesson in past encounters, and was simply bent on giving him a tongue lashing.
tricky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
unawares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was not a bit afraid of Dave Shallock, but he was fully aware of his tricky nature.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He got into a position where he could be sure that Dave’s ally, the fellow he had noticed on the fence, did not get a chance to attack him unawares, side or rear.
