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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 A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
always
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From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
beavers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
beings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
castor
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From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
caused
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From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
colony
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From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
constructed
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From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
creatures
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From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
dam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
explained
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From this reading "The whole mystery was now explained.
favourite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
fibre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
inundation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
knew
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From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
migrated
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From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
movements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The whole mystery was now explained.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
naturalists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
neglected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The whole mystery was now explained.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
studies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew, then, that the strange beings before me were _beavers_--the _castor fibre_ of the naturalists.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The whole mystery was now explained.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I remained for some time, after I had made the discovery, watching these creatures and their interesting movements.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I had never seen such creatures before, but I knew at once what they were--for although I had neglected my other studies, natural history had always been my favourite, and I had made some progress in that.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A colony of beavers had migrated into the valley, and constructed their dam; and this it was which had caused the sudden inundation.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "The whole mystery was now explained.
