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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 One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
accepted
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From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
aggressors
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From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
announcing
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From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
appearing
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From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
balancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
Brodie
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From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
click
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From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
denial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
dull
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From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
emptied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a sudden violent burst of sound or force
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
fired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
four
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From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
gnawed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
Gratton
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From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
guilt
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From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
gun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
knuckles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
limply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
metallic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
methodically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
muffled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
onlooker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
passive
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From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
puff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
puffed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
revolver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
sagged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
sign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
sounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
sprawled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the last explosion the balancing body sagged limply and sprawled in the snow.
staccato
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
steadily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
succession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
tracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
ugly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There came a second shot; then in sharp staccato succession four others, followed by the ugly little metallic click announcing that the gun had emptied itself.
whippednounUS /ˈwhipped/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One of them sprang forward and struck; the little man whipped out a revolver and fired.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The shot sounded dull and muffled; a puff of smoke hung for a moment like the smoke from the pipe, appearing methodically between the passive onlooker's teeth; the man who had struck stopped dead in his tracks.
windy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gratton gnawed at his knuckles, Brodie puffed steadily, and the two aggressors accepted windy denial as sign of guilt.
