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A Little Wizard
A Little Wizard

Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
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HIS EXCELLENCY'S JUDGMENT.
If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.
Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.
On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.
Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Little Wizard

Chapter IX

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HIS EXCELLENCY'S JUDGMENT.
Line 2
If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.
Line 3
Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.
Line 4
On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.
Line 5
Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.”

Astonished adjective US /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

very surprised

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Gentleman noun US /ˈgentleman/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.”

All words in this reading · 92

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

amazement

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

answer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

appeared

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

very surprised

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

caused

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

chief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

child

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

common

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

conceive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

contrary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

difficult

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

doubt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

doubted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

Duke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

events

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

EXCELLENCY'S

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From this reading HIS EXCELLENCY'S JUDGMENT.

existence

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

gallant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

Hamilton

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

happen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

helpless

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading HIS EXCELLENCY'S JUDGMENT.

hum

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

idea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

indeed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

indignation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

JUDGMENT

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading HIS EXCELLENCY'S JUDGMENT.

laughter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

lips

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

majority

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

man's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

murmur

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

otherwise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

present

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

Respect

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

ridicule

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

rose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

scarcely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

surrendered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

terms

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

thirty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

thousand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

unlikely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Respect for their chief did indeed silence the laughter which the man's answer would otherwise have caused, but it could not still the murmur of amazement and ridicule, or the hum of indignation which rose to their lips.

witch

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.

witchcraft

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Not that they, or the majority of them at all events, doubted the existence of witchcraft.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading If Duke Hamilton had suddenly appeared in the room and surrendered himself without terms--a thing beyond doubt unlikely to happen as long as that gallant gentleman had thirty thousand men at his back--those present could scarcely have looked more astonished.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading On the contrary; but anything less like the common idea of a witch than this helpless child it would have been difficult to conceive.