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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 At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
alarm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
awhile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
COMEnounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
echoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
KINGDOM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
knocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
misgiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
neighbourhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
observatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
quaver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
roused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s this?” says he.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
studied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “What’s this?” says he.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
thrust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
volleyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I COME INTO MY KINGDOM For some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What’s this?” says he.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory.
witnesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house.
