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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 For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
aim
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From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
air
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From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
almost
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From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
always
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From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
ANTWERPS
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From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
becoming
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From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
birds
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From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
creatures
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From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
dawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
day
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From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
deadlier
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From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
fire
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From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
foes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
forth
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From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
harmless
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From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
hawks
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From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
indulged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
Merton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
objects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
OWLS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
patrolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
protect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
retire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
sallying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
season
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
shoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
stationary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
stormy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He always indulged himself, however, in one shot at a mark, and was becoming sure in his aim at stationary objects.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a time he saw nothing to fire at, since he had promised me not to shoot harmless birds.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had quite as serious and important an air as if he were sallying forth to protect us from deadlier foes.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading One evening, however, when we were almost ready to retire, a strange sound startled us.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading OWLS AND ANTWERPS Each day at dawn, unless it was stormy, Merton patrolled the place with his gun, looking for hawks and other creatures which at this season he was permitted to shoot.
