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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 He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
actually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
arose
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From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
avoid
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From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
become
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From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
cord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
Dantès
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
depths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
dived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
dragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
dragging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
efforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
extricated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
fifty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
leap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
mighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
paces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
ripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
sack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
cut completely into separate parts
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
shroud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
strangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
stunnedadjectiveUS /stʌnd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
suffocated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
sunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dantès waited only to get breath, and then dived, in order to avoid being seen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dantès, although stunned and almost suffocated, had sufficient presence of mind to hold his breath, and as his right hand (prepared as he was for every chance) held his knife open, he rapidly ripped up the sack, extricated his arm, and then his body; but in spite of all his efforts to free himself from the shot, he felt it dragging him down still lower.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He then bent his body, and by a desperate effort severed the cord that bound his legs, at the moment when it seemed as if he were actually strangled.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading When he arose a second time, he was fifty paces from where he had first sunk.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a mighty leap he rose to the surface of the sea, while the shot dragged down to the depths the sack that had so nearly become his shroud.
