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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 _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
bomb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ready," called the squad leader.
caressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
commands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
condemned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
crater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
cruelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
dividends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
ethical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
fondled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
Hardesty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
Here's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
index
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
inhumanity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
inverted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
issue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
norm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
pays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
post-war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
Ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ready," called the squad leader.
rifle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
rim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
rubble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
splashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
squad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
squinting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
suspended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
system
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At times like this, Hardesty observed, time seemed suspended.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
trigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was just coming up over the rim of the bomb crater, splashing the rubble there with rose and gold.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered if it worked that way for the condemned man, too.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._ Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.
