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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 He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
anxious
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From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
Bathurst
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From this reading Bathurst.
became
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From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
burst
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
colony
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
connection
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
convulsions
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
demonstrated
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
earth
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
eruptions
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
felt
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
firm
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From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
frequent
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
ground
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From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
Hobson
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From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
house
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
Immediately
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From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
knew
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
lake
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
lean
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
made
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
more
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
motionless
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From this reading Immediately after this one shock, the ground again became firm and motionless.
occurred
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From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
once
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From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
only
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
rather
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
rebound
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
region
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
shock
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
significance
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From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
suspense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
swallow
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
up
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
upheaval
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
vertical
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From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
volcanic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Such convulsions were probably frequent in this volcanic region, and the connection between them and eruptions was once more demonstrated.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hobson well understood the significance of what had occurred, and waited in anxious suspense.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He knew that the earth might open and swallow up the little colony; but only one shock was felt, and that was rather a rebound than a vertical upheaval, which made the house lean over towards the lake, and burst open its walls.