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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 As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
act
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From this reading The act took Gordon by surprise.
all
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From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
assailant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
attack
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From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
badly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The act took Gordon by surprise.
Carter
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From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
Cray's
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From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
criminal's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
dazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
detective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
ex-police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
fought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
GET-AWAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GORDON MAKES HIS GET-AWAY.
GORDON
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From this reading GORDON MAKES HIS GET-AWAY.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading GORDON MAKES HIS GET-AWAY.
instinctively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
Jack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
lurching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
MAKES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GORDON MAKES HIS GET-AWAY.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
Nick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
retain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
skull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The act took Gordon by surprise.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Carter!” he muttered; then, lurching forward, peered at his assailant.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The act took Gordon by surprise.
totter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
tough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
vicious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As it happened, Jack Cray’s skull was a pretty tough one, and, therefore, the criminal’s first blow, vicious as it was, did not end matters.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It badly dazed the ex-police detective, making him totter and throw out his hands instinctively, but the attack was so extraordinary, coming, as he believed, from Nick Carter, that he fought with all his might to retain his senses long enough to see what it meant.
