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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 There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
air
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From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
assumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
babel
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From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
came
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From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
characteristic
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From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
confused
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From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
corridor
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From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
down
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From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
driving
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From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
elbow
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From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
enough
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From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
exclaimed
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From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
explanations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
forcefulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
harbour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
latter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It is extraordinary!" the latter exclaimed.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
meekly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
non-comprehension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
Norgate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
Ostend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
pertinacity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
platform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
Selingman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
stand-still
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
wake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a babel of voices as the long train came to a stand-still in the harbour station at Ostend.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He understood well enough what had happened, but with Selingman at his elbow he assumed an air of non-comprehension.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Norgate, who had followed meekly in his wake, stood listening for a moment to the confused stream of explanations.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Selingman, with characteristic forcefulness, pushed his way down the narrow corridor, driving before him passengers of less weight and pertinacity, until finally he descended on to the platform itself.
