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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
absolute
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
alarm
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
angrily
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
back
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
better
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
came
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
career
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
changed
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
cut
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
declared
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
Denny
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From this reading Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
ended
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
ends
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
excitement
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
feelings
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
four
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
front
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
hand
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From this reading Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
house
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
instant
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
irritation
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
kitchen
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From this reading Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
laugh
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
mirth
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
moment
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
out
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From this reading Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
pantomime
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
perplexity
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
Phroso's
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
rapid
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
rifle
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From this reading Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
rushed
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From this reading Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
second
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
sharp
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
shots
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
sound
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
STEFANOPOULOI
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
stillness
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
strongest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
succession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
Then
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
there
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From this reading For Phroso’s laugh ended--ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth--and there was a second of absolute stillness.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
three
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From this reading Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots--three in rapid succession in front, four behind.
transforming
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From this reading For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement.
Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE STEFANOPOULOI Was this a pantomime?
