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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 His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
aberrating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The shot had clearly been intended for Cato.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
Cato
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot had clearly been intended for Cato.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
clearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot had clearly been intended for Cato.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
Courtland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
detail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
directness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
distorted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
distracting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
expediency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The shot had clearly been intended for Cato.
freedman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
fury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
helpless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
intended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot had clearly been intended for Cato.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
lawless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
passion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
plantation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
proportion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
regained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of himself.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
sentiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot had clearly been intended for Cato.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
tantalizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
tenderness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
vision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His distracting passion--how distracting he had never before realized--was gone!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He saw them through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediency--but with the single directness of the man of action.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clear sight--no longer distorted by sentiment--had come back; he saw everything in its just proportion--his duty, the plantation, the helpless freedman threatened by lawless fury; the two women--no longer his one tantalizing vision, but now only a passing detail of the work before him.
