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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 oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
all
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
attributes
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
clog
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
closely
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
conceived
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From this reading They had not conceived it possible.
definitely
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
devising
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
efforts
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
flux
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
forming
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
governmental
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
hamper
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
happening
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
institutions
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
intricate
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
kept
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
learning
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
machine
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
many
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From this reading This was a surprise to many of the revolutionists.
more
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
new
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had not conceived it possible.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
oligarchs
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From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
Oligarchy
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
Out
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
period
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
permanence
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
possible
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From this reading They had not conceived it possible.
refuge
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
revolutionists
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From this reading This was a surprise to many of the revolutionists.
stay
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
surprise
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From this reading This was a surprise to many of the revolutionists.
taking
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From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had not conceived it possible.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
thoroughly
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
touch
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
transition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the flux of transition the new institutions were forming more definitely and taking on the appearance and attributes of permanence.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
war
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From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oligarchs had succeeded in devising a governmental machine, as intricate as it was vast, that worked—and this despite all our efforts to clog and hamper.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the long period of our stay in the refuge, we were kept closely in touch with what was happening in the world without, and we were learning thoroughly the strength of the Oligarchy with which we were at war.
