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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 Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
Bonito
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
confoundedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaʊndɪd/
annoying or confusing
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
consequences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
desperately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
excogitate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
facing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
flaw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
forge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
habitual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
immortality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
momentarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
policy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
recognition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
shock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
stone-still
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
strove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
tremendously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading For the instant of his waking had been one with his recognition of the voice--and of a flaw, moreover, in his own policy.
wariness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The consequences were facing him at once, and tremendously.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bonito, startled out of dreams of immortality, returned to earth with a shock.
wits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Something--somebody had spoken to him!_ Even so--taken by surprise, his wits momentarily confounded--habitual wariness kept him stone-still where he lay, his head dropped back upon the forge, while he strove desperately to excogitate his right answer to the situation.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that his life at this moment hung upon a word.
