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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 A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
attached
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From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
black
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From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
BREAKS
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From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
built
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From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
awkward in movement or handling things
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
contrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
darkness
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From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
developments
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From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
dimly
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From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
down
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From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
drawn
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From this reading The flap was drawn and fastened.
dummies
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From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
dump
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From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
effective
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From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
ensconced
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From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
fastened
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From this reading The flap was drawn and fastened.
figure
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From this reading Occasionally a figure moved slightly.
figures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
flap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flap was drawn and fastened.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
illumined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
lantern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
men
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From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
mouth
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From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally a figure moved slightly.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
Occasionally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally a figure moved slightly.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
partners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
passer-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
Plimsoll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
ramparted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
reclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
revealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
rocker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
ROPE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
Sandy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally a figure moved slightly.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
stuff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
tent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
tunnel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A ROPE BREAKS The lantern, turned down, dimly illumined the tent and revealed the figures of three men seated about some sort of rough table.
twitched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The flap was drawn and fastened.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Every little while Sandy twitched a line that was attached to a clumsy but effective rocker he had contrived beneath one of the dummies they had built from the stuff that Plimsoll had not reclaimed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No passer-by would have guessed that the three partners were ensconced in the black mouth of the tunnel, ramparted by the dump heap, watching for developments they were fairly sure would start with darkness.
