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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 He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
clenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
dapper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
extravagant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
frantically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
frock-coated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
grill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
interval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
jaw-bones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
Major
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Major Shrike!"
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
motionless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
narrowness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
parted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
posture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
precluded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
rails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
release
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
ridges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
showing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
Shrike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Major Shrike!"
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
spruce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
strain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
striving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
taut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They parted and let me through, and I saw him.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
trap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
whiskers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood quite motionless--taut and on the strain, as it were--and nothing of his face was visible but the back ridges of his jaw-bones, showing white through a bush of red whiskers.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stood, spruce, frock-coated, dapper, as he always was, with his face pressed against and _into_ the grill, and either hand raised and clenched tightly round a bar of the trap.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading His posture was as of one caught and striving frantically to release himself; yet the narrowness of the interval between the rails precluded so extravagant an idea.
