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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 Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
admittance
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/
in a way that shows deep pain or grief
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
brief
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
Bristol
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
cadgers
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
called
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
city's
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
cold
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Night had now come on, and it was pitch dark.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
dark
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From this reading Night had now come on, and it was pitch dark.
description
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
donkey
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
down
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
drawbridge
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
enceinte
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
eyes
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
fortifications
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
gate
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
gave
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
Getting
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
guard-sergeant
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
hearing
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
held
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
high
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
humble
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
inquiry
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
lamp
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
lately
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
latter
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
light
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
man
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
mien
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
moat
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
Night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Night had now come on, and it was pitch dark.
now
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From this reading Night had now come on, and it was pitch dark.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Night had now come on, and it was pitch dark.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
overhead
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
phrase
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
pitch
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From this reading Night had now come on, and it was pitch dark.
portcullis
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
post
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
reasonable
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
repaired
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
request
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
revealing
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
see
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
seeking
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
sentry
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
set
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
sight
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
soldierly
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From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
strengthened
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
then
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."
threw
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
towers
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From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
up
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From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
walled
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From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But a lamp set high on one of the gate towers threw its light across the moat, revealing to the eyes of the sentry who held post overhead the party seeking admittance.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bristol was then a walled town, with an _enceinte_ of ancient fortifications that had lately been repaired and strengthened.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Getting within sight of the city's gate, the cadgers could see it was shut, drawbridge up, and portcullis down.
Woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of their humble mien, he thought of the bitterly cold night, and hearing of their reasonable request, called to the guard-sergeant below; then, to the inquiry of the latter, gave description of them in brief soldierly phrase--"Woman, man, and donkey."