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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 In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
act
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From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
air
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From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
audience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
built
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From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
celebrated
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From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
circus
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From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
Delbier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
difficult
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From this reading It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
divers
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From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
feat
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From this reading It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
give
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From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
hit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
knot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
lad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
large
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From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
Leo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
performance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
special
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
swimmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
tank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning one of the swimmers, a lad named Delbier, was trying a new act.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a very difficult feat, and Leo watched Delbier with interest.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was to turn in the air in a peculiar way and land in the water on his side, with his body tied up in a knot.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the middle of the ring the circus men usually built a large tank, in which several celebrated swimmers and divers used to give a special performance.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was something new in the circus line, and it made a hit with the audience.
