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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 A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading But that was after the fact.
afterward
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From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
all
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From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
aloe
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From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
Any
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From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
apt
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From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
assume
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
bitterness
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From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
BLOW
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From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
blunders
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From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
blunt-witted
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From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
box
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From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
Brant
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But that was after the fact.
careful
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From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
cigar
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From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
commend
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
cup
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From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
DARK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
dregs
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From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
fact
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From this reading But that was after the fact.
failed
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
foreseen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
Harding
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
heroic
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
Langford
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From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
lapsings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
opportunity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
preventive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
rescuer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
suspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
tasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
tenderfoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
thorough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Any tenderfoot of them all would have been less blunt-witted, he told himself afterward in much bitterness of spirit.
uninterrupted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But that was after the fact.
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While he was smoking his cigar on the box and tasting some of the aloe dregs of the cup of lapsings, Harding was making the most of his opportunity.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A BLOW IN THE DARK WHEN a careful man blunders he is apt to make thorough work of it.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Brant had suspected the use Harding would make of an uninterrupted quarter of an hour with William Langford, it is safe to assume that no preventive, however heroic, would have failed to commend itself to the rescuer; and he should have foreseen.
