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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 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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From this reading Even the least imaginative felt the thrill, the awe of the thing he was doing.
doubtfully
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From this reading Some went about their labours doubtfully, some almost timorously, some with jubilation, one or two with real regret.
drawn
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.