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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 wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
air
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
alight
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
Annie
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From this reading Annie screamed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
beauty
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From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
blacksmith
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From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
burst
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From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
butterfly
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
child
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
cold
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From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
compressed
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
emitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
expression
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
face
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
force
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From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
forever
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From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
fragments
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From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
glittering
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From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
grandsire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
Hovenden
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From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
hovered
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From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
infant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
infant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
insect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
labor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
life's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
marvellous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
Old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
Owen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
palm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
Peter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
placidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
radiance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
ruin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
scornful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Old Peter Hovenden burst into a cold and scornful laugh.
screamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annie screamed.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
shrewd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
snatchnounUS /snatch/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
struggled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
tremulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
unclosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
Warland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
wavering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a wavering movement, and emitting a tremulous radiance, the butterfly struggled, as it were, towards the infant, and was about to alight upon his finger; but while it still hovered in the air, the little child of strength, with his grandsire’s sharp and shrewd expression in his face, made a snatch at the marvellous insect and compressed it in his hand.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The blacksmith, by main force, unclosed the infant’s hand, and found within the palm a small heap of glittering fragments, whence the mystery of beauty had fled forever.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life’s labor, and which was yet no ruin.
