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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 _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
alien
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From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
appendage
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From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
atmosphere
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From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
back
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From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
betrayed
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From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
boot
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From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
breath
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From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
city
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From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
crept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
crystal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
exploration
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From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
faceplate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
goal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
gravel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
gripping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
haft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
Lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
Lloyd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
loose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
Mars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
Martian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
military
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
minds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
paces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
pistol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
rasping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
rubble-strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
ruins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
silently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
slim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
Somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
spotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
spun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
startle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Even in the thin Martian atmosphere, the sound was a sharp one.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Somewhere on Mars there had to be a meeting of the minds...._ Lieutenant Lloyd spotted the first alien in the ruins of the strange red Martian city on the second day of exploration.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
tube
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creature spun about, one appendage gripping the haft of a slim crystal tube.
unholstered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He was a mere ten paces short of his goal when loose gravel beneath his heavy boot betrayed him.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His first impulse was to call out to the other men--but then, afraid his voice would startle the creature down at the end of the rubble-strewn street, he silently unholstered his military service pistol and crept forward toward the back (he hoped it was the back) of the alien, his breath rasping behind his faceplate.
