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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 LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
ahead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
brakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
Brookhollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
Carew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
creek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
crossroads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
distinguished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
gleam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
HOUSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
judged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
LOCKED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
lowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
motor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
occupant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
occur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
realised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
shaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
shades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
sped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LOCKED HOUSE From the road, just before he descended to cross the bridge into Brookhollow, he caught a gleam of light straight ahead.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The car was already on the old stone bridge; the Carew house stood directly behind the crossroads ahead; and he swung to the right into the creek road and sped along it until he judged that neither his lights nor the sound of his motor could be distinguished by the unknown occupant of the Carew house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For a moment it did not occur to him that there was anything strange in his seeing a light in the old Carew house.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Then, suddenly, he realised that a light ought not to be burning behind the lowered shades of a house which was supposed to be empty and locked.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His instant impulse was to put on his brakes then and there, but the next moment he realised that his car must already have been heard and seen by whoever had lighted that shaded lamp.
