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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 WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
arms
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
avoid
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
bare
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
beam
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From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
blacker
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From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
bulk
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From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
chuckled
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
clawed
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
doubt
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From this reading He hung in doubt.
edge
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
end
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From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
familiar
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From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
fingering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
fingers
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
flinging
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
foothold
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
friendly
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
gradually
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From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
hauled
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
hooking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He hung in doubt.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
knee
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
ladder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
lay
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
loose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
LOTUS
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
meaning
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From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
mossy
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/
a soft material used to cover and protect a wound
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
protruding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
quiet
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
reached
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From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
ribbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
rungs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
scrambled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
slanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
starlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
swarming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
there
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From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
thief
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
tiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, to his great relief, something blacker than the starlight gathered into form over his head,--a slanting bulk, which gradually took on a familiar meaning.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He chuckled, reached for it, and fingering the rough edge to avoid loose tiles, hauled himself up to a foothold on the beam, and so, flinging out his arms and hooking one knee, scrambled over and lay on a ribbed and mossy surface, under the friendly stars.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The ladder hung from the square end of a protruding beam, above which there were no more rungs.
WHITE
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From this reading WHITE LOTUS He was swarming up, quiet as a thief, when his fingers clawed the bare plaster.
