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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 She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
aid
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From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading STRANGERS And now she was alone.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STRANGERS And now she was alone.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
automaton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
caused
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From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
combat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
cool
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From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
creep
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From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
evil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
filthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
habitual
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From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
half-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
intensity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
irresponsible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
judgment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
lair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
loathing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
mode
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
monster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STRANGERS And now she was alone.
numbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
powerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
Presently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
render
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
reptile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading STRANGERS And now she was alone.
shuddered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
STRANGERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STRANGERS And now she was alone.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
Torpor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt as if she had indeed seen and touched a filthy, evil reptile, but that for the moment it had gone out of her sight.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STRANGERS And now she was alone.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Torpor had left her; even that intensity of loathing had gone, which for the past half-hour had numbed her very senses and caused her to move and speak like an irresponsible automaton.
wits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She must be prepared; therefore she no longer shuddered at the horror of it, but called her wits to her aid, her cool judgment and habitual quick mode of action, to combat the monster and render it powerless.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Presently it would creep out of its lair again, but by that time she would be prepared.
