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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 He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
apparently
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From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
band
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
basement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
cigarette
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From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
composed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
conspirators
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
cords
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From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
environment
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From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
existing
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From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
Hartwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
hints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
Jacob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
Jazz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
lounging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
Mason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
newest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
readjusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
situated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
Sybil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
uneasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It must have been, Jacob decided, about half an hour later when his senses readjusted themselves to his existing environment.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was in what had apparently been the kitchen, situated in the basement of the house, seated in a fairly comfortable chair to which he was tied by cords.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
wicker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sybil, perfectly composed, was lounging in a wicker chair a little way off, smoking a cigarette.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hartwell and Mason were watching him with the air of uneasy conspirators.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black man who he had been told was the leader of the newest Jazz band, come to give the young lady some hints as to music, had disappeared.
