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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 For a moment Peter stood motionless.
air
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
away
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
Balls
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
bottom
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From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
burst
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
casement
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
clinging
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
door
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From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
explosions
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
fiery
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
flooding
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
four
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From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
fright
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
guard
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From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
half-wit
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
horror-struck
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From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
landing
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
legs
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
loft
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
lower
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
make
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
men
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From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
moment
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From this reading For a moment Peter stood motionless.
motionless
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From this reading For a moment Peter stood motionless.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
opened
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
opportunity
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
Peter
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From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
recoiled
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
room
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From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
rushed
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From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
see
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From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
seized
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
shooting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
slink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
standing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the light Peter could see his men standing horror-struck, four below him at the bottom of the stairs, and four on guard at the door.
staring
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From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
Stas
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From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
stealthily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
terrific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Peter rushed to the door and stood, staring.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Those who had been clinging to Stas on the landing had recoiled in fright before the fiery balls, and the half-wit had seized the opportunity to slink stealthily away through their legs, and make for the lower steps.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Balls of red fire were shooting out into the air from the opened casement of the room in the loft, flooding the place with light as they burst with terrific explosions.