adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
apartmentnounUS /əˈpɑːrtmənt/
a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/
the coloring of a person's face
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
floornounUS /flɔːr/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/
having or given a form or shape
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
gratedverbUS /ˈɡreɪtɪd/
past form of “grate” — furnish with a grate
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
grimadjectiveUS /ɡrɪm/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
hairnounUS /her/
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
HighadjectiveUS /haɪ/
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
junctionnounUS /ˈdʒʌŋkʃən/
the place where two or more things come together
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
loftyadjectiveUS /ˈlɔːfti/
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
looseadjectiveUS /luːs/
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
luckyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌki/
occurring by chance
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
lunaticadjectiveUS /ˈluːnətɪk/
insane and believed to be affected by the phases of the moon
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
nimblyadverbUS /ˈnɪmbli/
in a nimble or agile manner; with quickness and lightness and ease
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
held or filled or in use
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
pallornoun
unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
piercedadjectiveUS /pɪrst/
having a hole cut through
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
prematurelyadverbUS /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊrli/
(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
prisonnounUS /ˈprɪzən/
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
SeatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
strawnounUS /strɔː/
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
streamedverbUS /striːmd/
past form of “stream” — to extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
superintendentnounUS /ˌsuːpərənˈtendənt/
a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
superintendent'snounUS /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtendənts/
possessive form of “superintendent” — a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
symmetrynounUS /ˈsɪmətri/
(mathematics) an attribute of a shape or relation; exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a dividing line or plane
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
towernounUS /ˈtaʊər/
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
trussnounUS /trʌs/
(medicine) a bandage consisting of a pad and belt; worn to hold a hernia in place by pressure
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We found ourselves in a narrow, lofty prison, like an apartment in a tower.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading High up, in one corner, the grim stone walls were pierced by a grated opening, which let in air and light.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The superintendent opened the cell door with his own hand.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Seated on the floor, in the angle formed by the junction of two walls, we saw the superintendent's "lucky lunatic" at work, with a truss of loose straw on either side of him.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
youthfuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːθfəl/
suggestive of youth; vigorous and fresh
From this reading The slanting rays of light from the high window streamed down on his prematurely gray hair, and showed us the strange yellow pallor of his complexion, and the youthful symmetry of his hands, nimbly occupied with their work.
