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afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
afternoon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
announced
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From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
assistant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
BALLOON
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From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
benefit
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From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
BLUE
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From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
colleague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
conclusion
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From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
Dennis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
description
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
detail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
differed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
discreetly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
down
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From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
effaced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
examiner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
inspector's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
lengthening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
McCarty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
medical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
morbid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
Orbit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
relish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
sighed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
tragic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At its conclusion the medical examiner’s assistant was announced.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLUE BALLOON Orbit told of the afternoon’s tragic experience again in detail for the inspector’s benefit and McCarty and Dennis listened carefully, but it differed in no way from his first description.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dennis sighed with morbid relish as they went down the steps and out into the lengthening shadows of late afternoon.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “We’re leaving just when it’s getting good!”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The inspector descended with Orbit but McCarty and his colleague discreetly effaced themselves.
