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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 Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
aroused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
BecauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
chap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
curiosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
driver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the driver of the taxicab.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
helpless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
lashings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
Matt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
Motor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
smothering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
stifled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
taxicab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the driver of the taxicab.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the driver of the taxicab.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
treacherous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His curiosity, as was quite natural, had been aroused by the treacherous attack on Matt.
tryin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
wafted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
What're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Motor Matt, helpless and half stifled among the bushes, felt lashings being put on his arms and legs; then, while some one laid a hand on the cloth and pressed it tightly over his lips, a bit of conversation was wafted to him from the road.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because of the smothering cloth, the voices seemed to come from a great distance, although the spoken words were distinct enough.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “What’re you tryin’ to do with that chap?”
