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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 the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
accord
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From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
accused
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From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
arms
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From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
assembled
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
black
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From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
breast
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From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
caught
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From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
close
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From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
coals
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From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
common
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
commotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
confession
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
Cummerhays
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
drop
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
erect
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From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
eyes
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From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
fainted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
fallen
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
focused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
justice-room
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
lady
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From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
like
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From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
magistratesplural nounUS /ˈmædʒɪstreɪts/
civil officers who administer local law
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
Margery's
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From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
mountebank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
orbits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
phrase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
Picot's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
pin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
strained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Margery's strong arms had caught her ere she fell.
SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
thunderbolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the first few moments after Picot's startling confession had fallen like a thunderbolt among those assembled in the justice-room of Cummerhays, the silence was so intense that, to use a common phrase, a pin might have been heard to drop.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suddenly there was a slight commotion close to where the magistrates were sitting; the strained silence was broken, and all eyes turned as with one accord.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lady in black, she who was said to be the wife of the accused man, had fainted.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Every eye was focused on the mountebank, who stood on the spot where he had risen, erect and very pale, his eyes glowing in their deep orbits like live coals, and pressing his soft felt hat with both hands to his breast.
