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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 The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
air
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From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
all
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
awoke
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
bars
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From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
beam
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
black
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From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
captive
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
cheered
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
chilling
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From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
closed
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
cooing
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
Cornelius
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
dark
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
day
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From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
days
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
dreary
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
entering
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
exclude
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From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
few
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
happier
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From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
happy
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From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
heavy
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
hovering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
iron
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From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
irradiated
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
love
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
lovingly
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
lowering
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From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
near
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
new
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
night
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From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
others
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
outspread
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
pigeons
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
ran
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From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
ray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
roof
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From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
sunbeam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
unfortunate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its walls were black, its air chilling, the iron bars seemed to exclude every ray of light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Cornelius ran to that window and opened it; it seemed to him as if new life, and joy, and liberty itself were entering with this sunbeam into his cell, which, so dreary of late, was now cheered and irradiated by the light of love.
whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was a happy one, and the whole of the next day happier still.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
wings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Cornelius awoke next morning, a beam of the morning sun was playing about those iron bars; pigeons were hovering about with outspread wings, whilst others were lovingly cooing on the roof or near the still closed window.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading During the last few days, the prison had been heavy, dark, and lowering, as it were, with all its weight on the unfortunate captive.