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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 stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
gliding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
lain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
marched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
ornamented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
recalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
sentry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
sheath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
stained-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
stair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
stillness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
sword
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a faint gliding sound, and then perfect stillness, as the sentry marched in again right to the foot of the stairs and listened.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
trophies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
tumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
upstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
weapons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Something must have fallen," thought the sentry at last, as he recalled seeing, by a light carried by one of the officers as he went upstairs, that the walls were ornamented with trophies of old weapons.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As he did so, something--not the something which the sentry said had fallen down, but another something which had lain at full length in the top stair but one--moved gently.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stood, with his sword drawn, looking up that staircase for quite five minutes, but there was not a sound, and gloomy as the hall was by day, with its narrow stained-glass windows, it was almost blackness itself by night.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes; something must have tumbled down," he said again, as he returned his sword to its sheath, changed his piece to its old position, and faced round and marched toward the door.
