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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 Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
absolute
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From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
air
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From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
all
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From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
also
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From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
away
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From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
became
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From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
breathing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
clenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
degrees
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From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
Denis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
faintly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
feet
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From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
flesh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
GREATnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
GULF
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From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
knotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
laboured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Nan had neither stirred nor made a sound.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
mastering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
muscle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
Nan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Nan had neither stirred nor made a sound.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading But Nan had neither stirred nor made a sound.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading But Nan had neither stirred nor made a sound.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
relaxed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
stirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Nan had neither stirred nor made a sound.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
swaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then for a little the absolute silence was broken by short and laboured breathing through clenched teeth; then it became absolute as before.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had been but faintly whispered, and now for many moments there was no sound at all in the quiet shelter of the trees.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Denis was mastering himself as best he might; his whole being was as a knotted muscle; but by degrees that also relaxed, and he stood once more like a thing of flesh and blood, only swaying a little on his feet.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT GULF The words died away in the still air.
