adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
Andrii
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
approachingnounUS /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading A small silver lamp hanging before it barely illumined it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A small silver lamp hanging before it barely illumined it.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
breadnounUS /bred/
food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
burrownounUS /ˈbɜːroʊ/
a hole made by an animal, usually for shelter
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
CatholicadjectiveUS /ˈkæθlɪk/
of or relating to or supporting Catholicism
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
chapelnounUS /ˈtʃæpəl/
a place of worship that has its own altar
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
draggingadjectiveUS /ˈdræɡɪŋ/
marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
earthenadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrθən/
made of earth (or baked clay)
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
entirelyadverbUS /ɪnˈtaɪərli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
factnounUS /fækt/
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
fadedadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪdəd/
having lost freshness or brilliance of color
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
graduallyadverbUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəli/
in a gradual manner
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
guidenounUS /ɡaɪd/
someone employed to conduct others
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading A small silver lamp hanging before it barely illumined it.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
illuminedverbUS /ˌɪˈluːmənd/
past form of “illumine” — make lighter or brighter
From this reading A small silver lamp hanging before it barely illumined it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
lampnounUS /læmp/
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading A small silver lamp hanging before it barely illumined it.
leastadjectiveUS /liːst/
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
litadjectiveUS /lɪt/
provided with artificial light
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
MadonnanounUS /məˈdɑːnə/
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
moveverbUS /muːv/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
obliteratedadjectiveUS /əˈblɪtəreɪtɪd/
reduced to nothingness
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
picturenounUS /ˈpɪktʃər/
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
sacksnounUS /sæks/
plural of “sack” — a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading A small silver lamp hanging before it barely illumined it.
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
TatarnounUS /ˌtɑːˈtɑːr/
a member of the Mongolian people of central Asia who invaded Russia in the 13th century
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Andrii could hardly move in the dark and narrow earthen burrow, as he followed the Tatar, dragging after him his sacks of bread.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
wallnounUS /wɔːl/
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading And in fact the dark earthen walls began to be gradually lit up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
wideningnounUS /ˈwaɪdənɪŋ/
an increase in width
From this reading They reached a widening in the passage where, it seemed, there had once been a chapel; at least, there was a small table against the wall, like an altar, and above, the faded, almost entirely obliterated picture of a Catholic Madonna.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “It will soon be light,” said his guide: “we are approaching the spot where I placed a light.”
