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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 After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
all
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From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He was beneath the pit-frame in the receiving-room, at the very mouth of the shaft.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
buildings
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From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
complicated
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From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
confusing
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From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
crossed
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From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
enormous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
foot-bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
half-destroyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
ill-lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
met
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From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
mounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was beneath the pit-frame in the receiving-room, at the very mouth of the shaft.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
pierced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
pit-frame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was beneath the pit-frame in the receiving-room, at the very mouth of the shaft.
platform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
plunged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
protection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
receiving-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was beneath the pit-frame in the receiving-room, at the very mouth of the shaft.
roam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
screening-shed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
shaft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was beneath the pit-frame in the receiving-room, at the very mouth of the shaft.
shaky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was beneath the pit-frame in the receiving-room, at the very mouth of the shaft.
Voreux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading After having mounted a dark and half-destroyed staircase, he found himself on a shaky foot-bridge; then he crossed the screening-shed, which was plunged in such profound darkness that he walked with his hands before him for protection.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They left him free to roam through the ill-lighted buildings, full of black holes, confusing with their complicated stories and rooms.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly two enormous yellow eyes pierced the darkness in front of him.
Étienne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Étienne had at last descended from the platform and entered the Voreux; he spoke to men whom he met, asking if there was work to be had, but all shook their heads, telling him to wait for the captain.
