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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 then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
behold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
creeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
cry
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From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
danger
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From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
deliberately
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From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
dismay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
expanse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
Fison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
forthwith
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From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
judging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
jumping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
leap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
pouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
purring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
realised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
ridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
rocky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
shoutednounUS /shouted/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
slipping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
striding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
tentacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
threatening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
Twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
uncoiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, slowly uncoiling their tentacles, they all began moving towards him—creeping at first deliberately, and making a soft, purring sound to each other.
uneven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
wading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At that he shouted again, but this time not threatening, but a cry of dismay, and began jumping, striding, slipping, wading across the uneven expanse between him and the beach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a moment Mr. Fison realised that he was in danger.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He shouted again, threw both his boots, and started off, with a leap, forthwith.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twenty yards off he stopped and faced about, judging them slow, and, behold! the tentacles of their leader were already pouring over the rocky ridge on which he had just been standing!
