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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 At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
brands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
burned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
came
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From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
Colony
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From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
committee
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From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
dark
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From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
discussing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
effect
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From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
EverybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
fire-escapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
floor
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From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
four
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From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
Helicon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
hints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
Home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
managing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
March
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
mentioned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
night-clothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
purchased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
remote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
ropes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
singed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Everybody there lost everything, but that did not save us from dark hints in the newspapers, to the effect that some of our members had started the fire.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The colony had just purchased ropes to be used as fire-escapes from some remote rooms on the third floor of the building.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not mentioned by the newspapers that the managing committee had been discussing the need of those ropes for three or four months.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
wiped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o’clock one morning in March there came a fire and wiped out the Helicon Home Colony.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For my part I escaped from my room in the tower of the building with my night-clothing burned, and part of my hair singed off, and my feet full of broken glass and burning brands, which laid me up for two or three weeks.
