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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 Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
boyhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
companions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
demobilisation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading We did not know this new England.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
exile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
fireside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
fronts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
ghostliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
hundreds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We did not know this new England.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
loud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
menace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
murmurings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not know this new England.
NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We did not know this new England.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
patient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
revenants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
revolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
Rip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
spate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.
stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We did not know this new England.
ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
touching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We did not understand its spirit or its people.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
van
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We did not know this new England.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
Winkles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nor did they understand the men who came back from the many fronts of war, by hundreds of thousands, now that demobilisation had become a spate after murmurings that were loud with the menace of revolt from men who had been long patient.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I Those of us who had been in exile during the years of war and now returned to peace found that England had changed in our absence.
youthful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These “_revenants,_” the men who came back out of the terror, were so many Rip van Winkles (of a youthful kind), looking round for the companions of their boyhood, going to old places, touching old stones, sitting by the same fireside, but with a sense of ghostliness.