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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 It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
admission
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From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
alight
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
away
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From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
Baynard
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
black
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
blows
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
bolt-studded
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
close
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
closing
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
distance
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From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
door
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
Dyce
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
entrance
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From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
exit
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From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "FOR MY SAKE."
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
gates
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
give
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
HalfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
helped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
hirsute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
huge
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
iron
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
jail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
knocker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
Lanchester
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
mare
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "FOR MY SAKE."
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
postern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
proceeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
reined
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From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
resounding
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From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
SAKE
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From this reading "FOR MY SAKE."
September
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a rare thing for those gates to be opened except for the admission of prisoners, the usual means of entrance and exit being by a postern in the wall no great distance away.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The late September afternoon was closing rapidly in when John Dyce helped his mistress to alight from her mare, which had been reined up close to the great, black, bolt-studded gates of Lanchester jail.
wicket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half a minute later a small wicket was opened, and a hirsute face peered out into the glowing darkness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On this door Miss Baynard now proceeded to give three resounding blows with the huge iron knocker.
