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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 “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
accomplish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
Beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Be quick!”
breathing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
hadn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
hissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
hurt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
Matt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
McGlory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
menacing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
napkins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
notion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Be quick!”
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
ropes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
Softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
stifling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
Twist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Twist a couple of napkins into ropes.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading McGlory had not the least notion what Matt was trying to accomplish, but he knew it was something which might help their escape.
whispered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Softly, Joe, softly!” whispered Matt, stifling his own heavy breathing.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”
you'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Be quiet,” hissed Matt, in the man’s ear, “and you’ll not be hurt, but if you move, or try to call out”--his voice grew menacing--“you’ll wish you hadn’t!”