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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 young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
bar
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From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
calm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
clergyman's
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From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
clutching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
command
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From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
desire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
dropping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
figures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
fires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
gravely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart rose into his throat.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
index
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
inwardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
jerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
leapt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
motion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
murmur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His heart rose into his throat.
seconds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
shaft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
sickening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
stationary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
swift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading His heart rose into his throat.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
tub
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
uncomfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For an uncomfortable five seconds or so he remained stationary; then there was a jerk—another—and the dark figures, the lines of faces, and the glare of the fires leapt suddenly above his head.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He found himself dropping through space with a swift, sickening motion, as of one falling away from himself.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stepped gravely into the tub amid a low murmur, and, clutching the iron bar above it, felt himself at a word of command lifted gently into the air, and swung over the shaft.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young clergyman’s face, as he walked forward to the shaft, formed no index to his mind, for while it remained calm and even wore a faint smile, he was inwardly conscious of a strong desire to take hold of anything which presented itself, even a straw.
