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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 The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
advanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
blown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
creaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
dreading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It perplexed him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It perplexed him.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
lately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
longing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
Nervously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
perplexed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It perplexed him.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
purposely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
straggler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
thronged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nervously he peered about him, and up and down the street; then, seeing nothing, advanced slowly down the pavement.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not believe that he was really left behind, really forgotten, that he had been purposely permitted to escape.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The whole town, as he went, showed itself empty and deserted, as though a great wind had blown everything alive out of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He made his way down the creaking wooden stairs, dreading yet longing to meet some straggler who should point the way, but finding no one; across the dark hall, so lately thronged with living, moving things, and out through the opened front doors into the street.
