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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 continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
arched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
blackish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
cave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
chill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
continual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
crevice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
dripping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
endure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
fretfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
grisly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
HIDING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN HIDING.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN HIDING.
inner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
kiln
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
Lance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
misshapen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
pitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
provided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
resinous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
ribs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
skull-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
smell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
summer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
Sylvane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
tar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sylvane had provided him pitch pine to burn, because it would give more light, and there was a crevice which would lead the smoke away; but he fretfully told himself that the resinous sticks made the place smell like a tar kiln, and put out his fire rather than endure it.
tones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
unchanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
vexed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were the bare ribs of the mountain that arched above him in that place, blackish, misshapen, grisly in an unchanging chill.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN the skull-shaped pocket--which was the inner chamber of the cave where Lance lay, was neither light nor life.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The continual dripping which would have seemed music if he had come upon it in a summer's noon, vexed him now, and took on tones that he wished to forget.
