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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 The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
abruptly
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
allowed
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
appeared
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From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
arrival
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From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading A rapid dialogue ensued between him and the man with the cudgel, the thin one.
black
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
blade
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
blouses
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
blue
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
butcher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
carried
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
cattle
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
clad
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
colossus
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
cudgel
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
dialogue
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From this reading A rapid dialogue ensued between him and the man with the cudgel, the thin one.
door
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
downward
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
enormous
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From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
ensued
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From this reading A rapid dialogue ensued between him and the man with the cudgel, the thin one.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
garret
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
handle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A rapid dialogue ensued between him and the man with the cudgel, the thin one.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
iron-tipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
Jondrette
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From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
just
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
linen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
masked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
masks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A rapid dialogue ensued between him and the man with the cudgel, the thin one.
opened
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From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
pole-axe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
prison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rapid dialogue ensued between him and the man with the cudgel, the thin one.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
slaughtering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
slender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
some
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From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
sort
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From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
stolen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
thick-set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The third, a man with thick-set shoulders, not so slender as the first, held in his hand an enormous key stolen from the door of some prison.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It appeared that the arrival of these men was what Jondrette had been waiting for.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The first was thin, and had a long, iron-tipped cudgel; the second, who was a sort of colossus, carried, by the middle of the handle, with the blade downward, a butcher’s pole-axe for slaughtering cattle.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The door of the garret had just opened abruptly, and allowed a view of three men clad in blue linen blouses, and masked with masks of black paper.