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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 GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
banks
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From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
bed
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From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
benefit
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
bottom
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From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
centuries
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
confines
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
don't
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From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
especially
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
faster
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
flows
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
funny
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
GLAREnounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
glasses
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From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
Harris
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
hour
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
many
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
most
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From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
narrower
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From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
nature
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
Now
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
ordered
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
Pee-wee
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
policy
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From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
recedes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
recession
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
river
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
runs
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
SEARCH-LIGHT
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
see
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From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
sloping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
small
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
suburban
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From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE GLARE OF THE SEARCH-LIGHT Now the tide is a funny thing, especially in a small suburban river.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The banks of a river being for the most part sloping, the river bed is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
two
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From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This has been the settled policy of nature for many centuries, and it was so ordered for the benefit of Pee-wee Harris.
wear
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From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That is why the tide, as it recedes, runs faster and faster; because during the last hour or two of its recession it flows in narrower confines.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You don't have to wear glasses to see that.