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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 One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
baby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
dresser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
dwarfish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
examined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
Finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
leathery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
monkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
mummified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
negro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
resemblance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
shrunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One could but say that it was black and leathery and that it bore some resemblance to a dwarfish, human figure.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first, as I examined it, I thought that it was a mummified negro baby, and then it seemed a very twisted and ancient monkey.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Finally I was left in doubt as to whether it was animal or human.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He held up his candle before an extraordinary object which stood at the back of the dresser.
withered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
wrinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was so wrinkled and shrunken and withered that it was difficult to say what it might have been.
