adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
apaceadverbUS /əˈpeɪs/
(poetic, literary) quickly
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
blowverbUS /bloʊ/
exhale hard
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
checkingverbUS /ˈtʃekɪŋ/
-ing form of “check” — examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
chillnounUS /tʃɪl/
coldness due to a cold environment
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
coffeenounUS /ˈkɑːfi/
a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
cooladjectiveUS /kuːl/
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
crackverbUS /kræk/
become fractured; break or crack on the surface only
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
crumblingverbUS /ˈkrʌmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
drivingadjectiveUS /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
ElizabethnounUS /ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/
daughter of George VI who became the Queen of England and Northern Ireland in 1952 on the death of her father (1926-)
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
excusedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈkjuːzd/
granted exemption
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
flamesnounUS /fleɪmz/
plural of “flame” — the process of combustion of inflammable materials producing heat and light and (often) smoke
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
gatheredadjectiveUS /ˈɡæðərd/
brought together in one place
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
immediatelyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
impetusnounUS /ˈɪmpətəs/
a force that moves something along
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
logverbUS /lɔːɡ/
enter into a log, as on ships and planes
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
mysteriesnounUS /ˈmɪstəriz/
plural of “mystery” — something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
progressnounUS /ˈprɑːɡres/
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
pump-gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
ranchnounUS /ræntʃ/
farm consisting of a large tract of land along with facilities needed to raise livestock (especially cattle)
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/
go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading The blow fell immediately after dinner that same evening.
sendingnounUS /ˈsendɪŋ/
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
sticksnounUS /stɪks/
plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
TerencenounUS /ˈterəns/
dramatist of ancient Rome (born in Greece) whose comedies were based on works by Menander (190?-159 BC)
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Terence excused himself early to retire to the mysteries of a new pump-gun.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
Vance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Elizabeth and Vance took their coffee into the library.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night had turned cool, with a sharp wind driving the chill through every crack; so a few sticks were sending their flames crumbling against the big back log.
workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading But while he had been working at a distance, things had been going on apace at the ranch, a progress which had now gathered such impetus that he found himself incapable of checking it.
