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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 Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
barbed
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
barrier
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
blank
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From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
bottom
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From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
bridge
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
brook
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
building
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
country
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From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
crossed
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
Descending
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
door
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From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
dry
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From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
Erckmann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
evidently
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From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
foreigner
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From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/
very difficult to deal with or overcome
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
gateway
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
high
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
ill-favoured
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From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
individual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
most
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From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
only
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
Renstoke's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
response
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
rippling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
see
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
shallow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
soon
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From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
surmounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Descending the hill they crossed the brook and soon found themselves at a tiny bridge beside the only gateway they could see in the high stone wall, surmounted by a formidable barrier of barbed iron, which surrounded the building.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I want to see Mr Erckmann; is he at home?"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the most part, the country was dry.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading In response to Renstoke's knock the door was opened by an ill-favoured individual, evidently a foreigner, who stared at them in blank surprise.
wound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below them, however, was a shallow valley, along the bottom of which a rippling burn wound its way.