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4
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
alarm
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From this reading It was a false alarm.
American
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
ankle
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From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
bed-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
boomingnounUS /ˈbooming/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
bruising
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From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
cannon
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From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
clanging
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From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
concerned
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From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
concussion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
conditions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
cost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
doors
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From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
Duke
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From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
earthquake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
enormous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a sudden violent burst of sound or force
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
false
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From this reading It was a false alarm.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
far-famed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
Foreigners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
GoodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
high-class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a false alarm.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
jumped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
loaders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
m
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
magnitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
mortars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
Muhlen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
narrowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
Nepenthean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
precisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
pyjamas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
rushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
simultaneous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
staying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An American lady, staying at Mr. Muhlen's high-class hotel, jumped from her bed-room on the third floor into the courtyard below, and narrowly escaped bruising her ankle.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
tricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
unaccustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Next morning, at precisely 4 a.m., there was an earthquake.
wayward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading The sudden clanging of every bell on the place, the explosion of twelve hundred mortars and the simultaneous booming of an enormous cannon--that far-famed gun whose wayward tricks had cost the lives of hundreds of its loaders in the days of the Good Duke--might have passed for an earthquake of the first magnitude, so far as noise and concussion were concerned.
wreckage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners unaccustomed to Nepenthean conditions rushed in their pyjamas out of doors, to escape the falling wreckage.