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aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
Archy
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
arduous
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From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
climbed
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
close
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
dared
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From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
down
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
drawn
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From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
end
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From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
eyes
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
fall
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From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
far
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
glad
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
ledge
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
made
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From this reading The midshipman made no reply.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
midshipman
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From this reading The midshipman made no reply.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The midshipman made no reply.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
quiver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
Ram
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From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
reluctantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
reply
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From this reading The midshipman made no reply.
rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
safety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
secure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The midshipman made no reply.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
thirty
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From this reading Then reluctantly, but feeling that it must be done, Archy climbed the thirty feet of rope between him and the great ledge, slowly and surely, glad to lie down and close his eyes as soon as he was in safety so far.
tight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
unfastened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
unstrung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was an arduous task before him, and his nerves were unstrung.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He tried to, but he dared not look over when the rope began to quiver again.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading After he had unfastened the end of the rope and passed it to Ram, who did not secure the end about him, but the middle, after he had nearly drawn it tight, so that, if he did slip, the fall would not be so long.
