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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 And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
Alice
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From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
burrowed
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From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
came
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From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
certain
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From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
chewed
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From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
chill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
close
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From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
Colonizing
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From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
crawled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
critters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
doubt
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From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
eagerly
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From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
faint
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From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
fearfully
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From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
flew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
floors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
gesture
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From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
hell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
howled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
hungry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
idle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
Kidd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
Mars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
Monster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
panting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
precisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
scratching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
snarled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Colonizing Mars was hell, because of one thing--large, hungry critters.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, as she came close to the doorway, it was no longer possible to doubt, and a chill went through her at the thought of the creature panting eagerly on the other side.
whine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now she could hear it whine, and, despite her knowledge that the gesture was an idle one, she could not help once more feeling the bolt behind the door.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flew, crawled, snarled, howled, burrowed up under the floors, chewed at doors and windows.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, to make things worse, came the Monster...._ There was a faint scratching at the door, so faint that Alice Kidd, who had been listening fearfully for precisely that sound, was at first not certain that she heard it.
