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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 And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
absolute
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
away
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From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
bottom
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
coming
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
confident
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were, of course, very much startled.
destiny
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
door
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
downstairs
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
enabled
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From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
errand
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
fact
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
fitful
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From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
flash
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From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
fly
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
got
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
gust
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From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
home
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
house
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
jumped
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
just
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
late
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
lightning
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From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
matter
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
men
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
midnight
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
much
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From this reading They were, of course, very much startled.
necessity
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
observe
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From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
opened
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
out
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From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
past
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
people
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
puppet
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
quickly
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From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
ran
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
slipped
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From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
some
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were, of course, very much startled.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
stroke
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
swiftly
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
then
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From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were, of course, very much startled.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
two
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From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
up
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From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A flash of lightning enabled them to observe him walking away quickly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were, of course, very much startled.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He slipped out through them into the street, swept then by a fitful gust of wind.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as a matter of fact, just as he got to the bottom of the stairs, it was opened for him by some people of the house coming home late--two men and a woman.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was the puppet of his past, because at the very stroke of midnight he jumped up and ran swiftly downstairs as if confident that, by the power of destiny, the house door would fly open before the absolute necessity of his errand.