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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 HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
also
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From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
better
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From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
blue
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From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
breath
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From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
bureaucrats
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From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
cleft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
Cliff
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From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
cliffs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
ears
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From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
eastern
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From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
ferry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
glorious
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From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
heavy
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From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
MEETING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
methodic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
mile-wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
PASSEDnounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
pendulumnounUS /ˈpen.dʒə.ləm/
A weight hung from a fixed point so that it can swing freely, often used in timekeeping.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
race
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From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
recalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
ruled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
Russia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
swift-flowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
THREE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
Volga
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a cleft of the hills on the eastern bank, three free men lay in the sun and watched the slow, methodic passage of the pendulum ferry as it swung to and fro from bank to bank.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading For it recalls a glorious time, long since, when the bureaucrats went under, and for a space a free man ruled a free race--even in Russia.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
WITHOUTprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading HOW THREE PASSED WITHOUT MEETING "On the Volga there is a Cliff," but the bureaucrats, for reasons of their own, object to all mention of it.
would-be-frees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And the would-be-frees still sing of that time long since--but they sing of it below their breath, for the ears of the bureaucrats are long and their hands are heavy.
Yenisei
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are cliffs also on the Yenisei, blue and fair, across the mile-wide stretch of swift-flowing water; and these cliffs, too, are known to free men, and known still better to those who are not free.
