adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
brothersnounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/
plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
bundlesnounUS /ˈbʌndəlz/
plural of “bundle” — a collection of things wrapped or boxed together
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/
the act of burning something
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I wish I could see it."
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
fathersnounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
plural of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
fightingnounUS /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
FrancenounUS /fræns/
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
furniturenounUS /ˈfɜːrnɪtʃər/
furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/
a young female
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
gunpowdernounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/
a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I wish I could see it."
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PARIS IN THE SIEGE.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I wish I could see it."
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
lampnounUS /læmp/
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
linedadjectiveUS /laɪnd/
bordered by a line of things
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
LucynounUS /ˈluːsi/
incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
mixedadjectiveUS /mɪkst/
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
PARISnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading PARIS IN THE SIEGE.
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
PrussiannounUS /ˈprʌʃən/
a German inhabitant of Prussia
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
rough-hairedadjective
having hair that feels rough
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I wish I could see it."
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
SIEGEnounUS /siːdʒ/
the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
From this reading PARIS IN THE SIEGE.
smellnounUS /smel/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
stepsnounUS /steps/
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
stonenounUS /stoʊn/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
strawnounUS /strɔː/
plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
streetnounUS /striːt/
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PARIS IN THE SIEGE.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
thunderverbUS /ˈθʌndər/
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
UnclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
unwholesomeadjective
detrimental to physical or moral well-being
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
vaulted-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A little lamp was burning in a corner, piles of straw and bits of furniture were lying about, and upon one of the bundles of straw sat a little rough-haired girl.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "And Uncle Joe is in France, where the fathers and brothers of those little Prussian boys have been fighting.
whizzingverbUS /ˈwɪzɪŋ/
inflected form of “whiz” — make a soft swishing sound
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
wishverbUS /wɪʃ/
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I wish I could see it."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a thunder and a whizzing in the air and a sharp rattling noise besides; a strange, damp unwholesome smell too, mixed with that of gunpowder; and when Lucy looked up, she found herself down some steps in a dark, dull, vaulted-looking place, lined with stone, however, and open to the street above.
