adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
beadyadjectiveUS /ˈbiːdi/
small and round and shiny like a shiny bead or button
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
branchnounUS /bræntʃ/
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
fascinatingadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
FIGHTverbUS /faɪt/
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
formnounUS /fɔːrm/
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
FORTnounUS /fɔːrt/
a fortified military post where troops are stationed
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
glitteringadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪtərɪŋ/
having brief brilliant points or flashes of light
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
loweredadjectiveUS /ˈloʊərd/
below the surround or below the normal position
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
motionnounUS /ˈmoʊʃən/
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
necknounUS /nek/
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
OLDadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
reptilenounUS /ˈreptaɪl/
any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
rootedadjectiveUS /ˈruːtəd/
absolutely still
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
serpentnounUS /ˈsɜːrpənt/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
SlowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
snakenounUS /sneɪk/
limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
spotnounUS /spɑːt/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
stareverbUS /ster/
look at with fixed eyes
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/
successive (without a break)
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
tailnounUS /teɪl/
the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIGHT AT THE OLD FORT For the instant after the serpent appeared nobody spoke or moved.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
TomnounUS /tɑːm/
male cat
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
Tom'snounUS /tɑːmz/
possessive form of “tom” — male cat
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
treenounUS /triː/
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Slowly the form of the snake was lowered, until only the end of its tail kept it up on the tree branch.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The stare was fixed upon poor Tom, and having retreated but a few feet, he now stood as though rooted to the spot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
wavingnounUS /ˈweɪvɪŋ/
the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
From this reading The waving motion of the reptile was fascinating to the last degree, as was also that beady stare from its glittering eyes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then the head and neck began to swing back and forth, in a straight line with Tom's face.
