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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 BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
ambulances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
BILLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
cautiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
circuitous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
COOK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
deliver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
dogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
driving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
fun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
General's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
hospital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
KILLS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
lane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
lookout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
NEARLY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
pig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
rounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was just rounding the pig pen when he saw driving into the lane one of the field hospital ambulances.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When at last he approached the hospital from the back, he saw no one about, not even a dog or cat.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He cautiously approached, keeping a sharp lookout for the cook, for he did not want him to catch him and deliver him into the old General’s hands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading BILLY NEARLY KILLS THE COOK When Billy was sure he was not being followed, he went a circuitous way back to the dogs’ hospital that he might stop and have the fun of telling them how he escaped from the old General.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But all the windows and doors were open so he knew they were at home and around somewhere.
