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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 was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
afterward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
anguish
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From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
betray
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From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
candle
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From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
chief
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From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
comfort
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From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
cool-headed
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From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
discovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
embarrassment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
escape
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From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
faint
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From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
forced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
full
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From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
gathered
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From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
likeness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
Naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
nayexclamationUS /neɪ/
an old word for “no”
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
overturn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
rector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
rector's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
reflection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
repress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
repressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
shifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Naturally the rector was the first to speak.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
tortured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did repress it, however; nay, he forced his eyes to meet the rector’s, and twisted his lips into the likeness of a smile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when he thought of the scene afterward he found his chief comfort in the reflection that the light had been too faint to betray his full embarrassment.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He was a man, as the reader will perhaps have gathered, of many shifts, and cool-headed; but for a moment he felt something of the anguish of discovery which had so tortured the surprised servant.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The table shook beneath his hand, and it was with difficulty he repressed a wild impulse to overturn the candle, and escape in the darkness.