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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 An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
angry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
beating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
bent
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From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
big
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
breaking
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
choosenounUS /choose/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
country
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
curiously
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From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
down
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
eccentric
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From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
eggs
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
fingers
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From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
further
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
fury
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
gigantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
grain
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From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
hail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
ignored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
lashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
municipalities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
onslaught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
outstretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
overspread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
rage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
shuddered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
stalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
stones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The grain shuddered beneath the onslaught and bent to the ground.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
vent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
vindictive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Not a stalk was left standing in the fields over which the storm passed, but its course was curiously eccentric.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading An angry black cloud overspread the sky like a gigantic hand from whose outstretched fingers the hail was falling.
wicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It ignored whole municipalities, and no one could tell where next it would choose to vent its wicked rage.
zigzagged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was hail in the south and further west; it zigzagged across the country, beating down the tall grain; the stones lay as big as eggs upon the ground, breaking windows and lashing in its vindictive fury whatever stood in its path.
