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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 MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
addition
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From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
altogether
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From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
broad
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From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
Buck
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From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
came
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From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
clench
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From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
colour
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From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
Daniels
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From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
drained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
face
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From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
fighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
holster
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From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
horse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
inspiration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
lifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
like
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From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
loosened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
man
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From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
MUSIC
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From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
NICK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
OLD
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From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
pace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
quickens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
revolver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not have been an altogether pleasant inspiration, for it drained the colour from his face and made him clench his broad hands; and next he loosened his revolver in its holster.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
spur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
subtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A thought of fighting--of some desperate chance he had once taken, perhaps.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MUSIC FOR OLD NICK A thought is like a spur.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
toss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
veranda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such a thought came to Buck Daniels as he stepped again on the veranda of the hotel.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It lifts the head of a man as the spur makes the horse toss his; and it quickens the pace with a subtle addition of strength.
