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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 Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
back
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
banks
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
barbed
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
became
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
blockhouses
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
came
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
cared
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
closing
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From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
country
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
criss-crossed
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
Evening
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From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
eye
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
Far
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
fence
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
flat
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
flats
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From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
flowed
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
follow
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
forbidding
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From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
further
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
glint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
grey
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
land
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
lay
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
level
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
muddy
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From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
near
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
north
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
patrolled
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
probably
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
relentless
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From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
rise
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
rudely
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From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
savage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
sentries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
skyline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
sluggishly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was something relentless, forbidding, in that savage fence.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
there
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From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
thickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
thread
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From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading Evening was closing upon a waste of muddy flats.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
wire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the blockhouses a high fence of barbed wire, thickly criss-crossed, stretched north and south until it became a mere thread of grey stretching over the country.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Far as the eye could see there was no rise in the land; it lay level to the skyline, with here and there a glint of still water, and, further off, flat banks between which a wide river flowed sluggishly.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you cared to follow the river, you came at length to stone blockhouses, near which sentries patrolled the banks—and would probably have turned you back rudely.