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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 IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Alison started to her feet at sound of the intruder.
away
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From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
chaparral
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From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
cleared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
cleverly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
climb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Who could have discovered her lair?
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
DEADnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
discovered
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From this reading Who could have discovered her lair?
drop
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From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison started to her feet at sound of the intruder.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
fortress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Who could have discovered her lair?
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
intruder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison started to her feet at sound of the intruder.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
lair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who could have discovered her lair?
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
limb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
Neal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
needs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
rustling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison started to her feet at sound of the intruder.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Alison started to her feet at sound of the intruder.
subdued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
tangle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
thicketnounUS /ˈθɪkɪt/
a dense group of bushes or small trees
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
thorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
undergrowth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
vine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only Neal and herself knew the way to it, for the path was cleverly cleared beyond a group of trees standing by the road, and one must needs climb one of the trees and drop from a lower limb before the spot could be reached.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Neal had cut away for her the thick tangle of vine, bush, and thorn, the undergrowth which made up the chaparral, and she had called it her fortress.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT As she lay in the shelter of her hiding-place, her grief so subdued that only a sigh once in a while escaped her, Alison heard a rustling in the thicket.
WhopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Who could have discovered her lair?
