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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 had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
all
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From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
anxiety
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From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
branches
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From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
catching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
coulées
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From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
down
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From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
easy
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From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
fours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
gave
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From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
glide
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From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
goat's
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From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
horn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
league
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
lookout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
ravine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
rifles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
scramble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
sheer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
stir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have to scramble up by catching hold of the hanging branches of the trees, and sometimes on all fours, by sheer strength.
trumpet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The captain had ordered us not to stir, and only to come to him when we heard him blow his trumpet.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had been gone about half an hour, and we were on the lookout at the top of the ravine, when we heard a shot.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was made of a goat's horn, and could be heard a league off, but it gave no sound, and in spite of our cruel anxiety, we were obliged to wait in silence, with our rifles by our side.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading To go down these _coulées_ is easy, you need only let yourself glide down; but it is more difficult to get up again.
