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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 I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
AREauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
BESET
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From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
breaths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
CANNOT
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From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
cord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
cries
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From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
devilish
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From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
Don
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
ears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
faces
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From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
fighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
foes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
ghastly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
HARD
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From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
horrid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
Nicholas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
proceeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
quarrelnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəl/
an angry argument or disagreement
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
sensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
speculate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
truly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I had never seen blood drawn before in a quarrel; but now I had no time to speculate upon this ghastly proceeding.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I only know that the three of us sprang to our feet fighting for our lives.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
WEpronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WE ARE HARD BESET I CANNOT say what happened next.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So soon as the man with the cord was stretched on the floor, the first thing of which I was truly sensible was that Don Nicholas himself was down.
writhing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sharp and cruel noise of steel was in our ears; the hot breaths of our foes were on our cheeks; and horrid cries, writhing forms, and devilish faces were all about us.
