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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 High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
bare
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From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
base
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From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
beautiful
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From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
big
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From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
blazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
building
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From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
chairs
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From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
criss-crossed
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From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
CRYPTOGRAM
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From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
Deposit
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From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
dome
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From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
dozen
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From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
electrolier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
encased
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From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
framework
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
granite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
High
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From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
marble-tiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
ornate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
paced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
pedestal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
semicircle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
Spedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
suspended
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From this reading High above his head, suspended from the beautiful dome, blazed a hundred lights from an ornate electrolier.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
towered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
unfurnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He stood upon the marble-tiled floor of the Great Deposit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CRYPTOGRAM Mr. Spedding looked at his watch.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But for the dozen chairs that were placed in a semicircle before the great granite base, the big hall was bare and unfurnished.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He paced before the great pedestal that towered up from the center of the building, and the floor was criss-crossed with the shadows of the steel framework that encased it.