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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
wide open
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
mantelshelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
mirrors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
mistake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
nipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
relit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
sconce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
thumb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no mistake about it.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While I stood gaping, the candle at the foot of the bed went out, and the shadows seemed to take another step towards me.
wick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
wicks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The flame vanished, as if the wicks had been suddenly nipped between a finger and a thumb, leaving the wick neither glowing nor smoking, but black.
wink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I walked back, relit one, and as I did so, I saw the candle in the right sconce of one of the mirrors wink and go right out, and almost immediately its companion followed it.
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This won't do!" said I, and first one and then another candle on the mantelshelf followed.
