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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 cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
attempt
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From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
best
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From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
bore
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From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
cab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
called
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From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
caps
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From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
cave
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From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
changed
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From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
competent
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From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
concerning
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From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
dejection
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From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
display
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From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
expanse
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From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
finally
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From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
flares
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From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
gas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
gas-lit
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From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
gleams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
gloom
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From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
heroic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
illuminations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
lamps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
miners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
monstrous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
periods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
rate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
resembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
search-light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
shadowy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
tunnel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But at any rate I should have liked to have observed the dejection of a search-light if it had been called upon to attempt to bore through this atmosphere.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
vaultnounUS /vɔːlt/
a stone room, often below a church, used for burial
From this reading The cab finally rolled out of the gas-lit vault into a vast expanse of gloom.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This changed to the shadowy lines of a street that was like a passage in a monstrous cave.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were not very competent illuminations at best, merely being little pale flares of gas that at their most heroic periods could only display one fact concerning this tunnel--the fact of general direction.
winking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lamps winking here and there resembled the little gleams at the caps of the miners.
