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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 All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
arms
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From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
arrived
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From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
asleep
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From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
attacked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
band
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From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
barring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
brick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
captains
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From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
closed
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From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
confused
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From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
dishevelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
entrances
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From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
Estelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
feverish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
grounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
handkerchief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
haste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
knotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
leading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
Maheude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
miners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
receiving-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
settlement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first the band of miners from the settlement kept at a distance.
shed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
soldiers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
tones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
violentnounUS /ˈviolent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
Voreux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men had been drawn up in two lines against the brick wall, so that they could not be attacked from behind.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were some thirty at most, and talked together in a violent and confused way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Maheude, who had arrived first with dishevelled hair beneath a handkerchief knotted on in haste, and having Estelle asleep in her arms, repeated in feverish tones:
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading All the entrances to the Voreux had been closed, and the sixty soldiers, with grounded arms, were barring the only door left free, that leading to the receiving-room by a narrow staircase into which opened the captains' room and the shed.
