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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 With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
back
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From this reading That brought me back to the business in hand.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
Boom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
brief
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From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
brightness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That brought me back to the business in hand.
bungalows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
burst
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From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That brought me back to the business in hand.
comet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
flared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
flickered
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From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
fourthnounUS /fourth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
funnels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
guns
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From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That brought me back to the business in hand.
headland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
hiss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
hot
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From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
ironclad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
lane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
leapt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
mingle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
rocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
ruddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
seaward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
shuddering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
spurt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
squares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
steadily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
torchlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
wavered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Boom! boom!” and when I looked again at the great ironclad, a little torchlike spurt of flame wavered behind her funnels.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows of the dark bungalows, one after another, leapt out, squares of ruddy brightness that flared and flickered and became steadily bright.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a shuddering hiss, a rocket from a headland beyond the village leapt up and burst hot gold against the glare, and the sound of the third and fourth guns reached me.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dark heads appeared looking seaward, a door opened, and sent out a brief lane of yellow to mingle and be lost in the comet’s brightness.
