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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 Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
awakened
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
back
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
boy
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
came
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
cold
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
door
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
eaten
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
eyes
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
faint
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
figures
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
GRATIFIED
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From this reading THE WISH GRATIFIED.
Gray
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
hand
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
hastened
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
head
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
heard
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
heartily
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
heavy
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
hoarse
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
instant
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
knew
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
laid
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
lamp
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
like
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
Marcy
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
midnight
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
mince
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
mother's
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
muffled
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
muzzle
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
opened
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
other
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
pie
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
pillow
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
pressed
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
put
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
revolver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
rush
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
scream
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
sharp
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
shortly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
shoulder
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
sit
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
slept
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
slumbered
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
soundly
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
stairs
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
supper
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
swift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WISH GRATIFIED.
Then
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
there
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From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
tried
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From this reading Then he opened his eyes and tried to sit up, but was pressed back upon his pillow at the same instant that the cold, sharp muzzle of a revolver was put against his head.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
two
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
uneasily
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From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
voice
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The figures were there, but the first Marcy knew of it was when one turned up the lamp and the other laid a heavy hand upon his shoulder.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Marcy Gray slept like a boy who had eaten heartily of mince pie for supper, that is, uneasily.
wide-open
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From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.
WISH
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From this reading THE WISH GRATIFIED.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But still he must have slumbered soundly or he would have heard the faint scream and the hoarse, muffled voice that came up from his mother's room shortly after midnight, or been awakened by the swift rush of the two figures who hastened up the stairs and through the wide-open door into his room.