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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 Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
amazement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
blinded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
Bob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
burst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
choke
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From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
consternation
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From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
equal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
fisher-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
fully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
gasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
lump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
NEW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM'S NEW YACHT.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
recovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
thunderbolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
TOM'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM'S NEW YACHT.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
wharf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A great lump seemed to be rising up in his throat, his eyes were blinded with tears he could not choke back, and it was only after a desperate effort that he recovered the use of his tongue.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had a thunderbolt fallen upon the wharf and burst at their very feet, Tom could not have been more astonished than he was when these words fell upon his ear.
YACHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOM'S NEW YACHT.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes, I have!" replied the fisher-boy, whose amazement and consternation were fully equal to Tom's.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "O, now, Bob, you haven't read that letter right," he almost gasped.
