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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 In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
arms
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From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
bed
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From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
block
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From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
blows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
brandishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
burying
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From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
centimetres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
Chaval
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From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
coal
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From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
crushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
cuttings
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From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
detached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
dragging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
dug
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From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
elbows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
face
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From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
fallen
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From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
fifty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
flattened
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From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
hooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
Levaque
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From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
lie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
Maheu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
metres
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
necks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
picks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
pikemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
planks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
retain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
seam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
Separated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
short-handled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
slaty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
sloping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
stages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
unable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
vertical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
wedge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four pikemen had spread themselves one above the other over the whole face of the cutting.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In order to attack the coal, they had to lie on their sides with their necks twisted and arms raised, brandishing, in a sloping direction, their short-handled picks.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Separated by planks, hooked on to retain the fallen coal, they each occupied about four metres of the seam, and this seam was so thin, scarcely more than fifty centimetres thick at this spot, that they seemed to be flattened between the roof and the wall, dragging themselves along by their knees and elbows, and unable to turn without crushing their shoulders.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each worked at the slaty bed, which he dug out with blows of the pick; then he made two vertical cuttings in the bed and detached the block by burying an iron wedge in its upper part.
Zacharie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below there was, first, Zacharie; Levaque and Chaval were on the stages above, and at the very top was Maheu.
