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The Devil's Paw
The Devil's Paw

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for The Devil's Paw
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Devil's Paw

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.
Line 2
Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.
Line 3
Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
Line 4
Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.
Line 5
Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.”

All words in this reading · 95

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

almost

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

amplified

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

awe

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

blinds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

bombshell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

Buildings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

closely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

cold

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

docks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

doing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

doubtfully

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

drawn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

early

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

empty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

England

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

factories

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

felt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

fingers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

following

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

forges

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

grew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

hard

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

hive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

hours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

idle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

imaginative

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

industrial

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

industry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

jubilation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

keep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

labours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

mandates

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

mines

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

motionless

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

paralyse

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

prepared

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

rails

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

raised

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

real

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

regret

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

rooms

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

ships

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

silent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

Some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

telegrams

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

thrill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

timorously

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

trains

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

Twenty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

very

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

Westminster

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

windows

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Under their fingers grew the more amplified mandates which, following upon the bombshell of the already prepared telegrams, were within a few hours to paralyse industrial England, to keep her ships idle in the docks, her trains motionless upon the rails, her mines silent, her forges cold, her great factories empty.

work

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Twenty men were hard at work in twenty different rooms.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading If the closely drawn blinds of the many windows of Westminster Buildings could have been raised that night and early morning, the place would have seemed a very hive of industry.