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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 And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
afterward
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From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
brief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
people who share difficult work or danger, especially soldiers
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
countenance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
day
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From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
dungeon
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From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes
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From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
eyes
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From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
feeble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
feet
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From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
fell
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From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
fleeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
gallows
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From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
gave
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From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
grunt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
Jonas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
Jonas's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
jump
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
Ku-Klux
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From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
Lynching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
NevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
ousted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
Sanders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
scowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
scowled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
socket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
Songs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
Varner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And now, good comrades, what shall it be, A dungeon cell or a gallows tree?
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
wrenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one brief and fleeting moment, old Jonas's whole body seemed to be wrenched out of socket, as Mr. Sanders said afterward; his hat fell off, and it was as much as he could do to keep his feet.
wrinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scowled, and then he tried to smile, but the scowl felt very much at home on his wrinkled countenance, and refused to be ousted by a feeble smile.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would have thought the Ku-Klux had him, for this was the year Eighteen-Hundred-and-under-the-Bushes, with old Raw-Head-and-Bloody-Bones keeping his green eyes wide open.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading --_Varner's Lynching Songs._ Never, since the day you were born, have you seen such a jump, or heard such a grunt as old Jonas gave.