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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 Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading He slipped sideways along the hall to the front door, which he bolted likewise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
blown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
bolted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slipped sideways along the hall to the front door, which he bolted likewise.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter was on the table within a few feet of him.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter was on the table within a few feet of him.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/
prepared and equipped for a particular purpose
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slipped sideways along the hall to the front door, which he bolted likewise.
gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
likewise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slipped sideways along the hall to the front door, which he bolted likewise.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The letter was on the table within a few feet of him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
sideways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
slipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The letter was on the table within a few feet of him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
thumping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading After a minute, during which nothing happened, his eye caught the letter that had been blown to the floor when he entered the house.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he stood for a minute with his heart thumping, listening to hear whether the man were breaking through the window or coming to the door for him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He did not stay for the hand to come round with the gun, but slipped sideways into the hall, closed the door behind him and drew the bolt with which each of those doors was fitted.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The letter was on the table within a few feet of him.
