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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 She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
buttons
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From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
candles
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From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
carefully
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From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
check
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From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
clasped
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From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
clear
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From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
down
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From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
effort
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From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
electric
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From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
elsewhere
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From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
fix
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From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
frenzy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
full
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From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
going
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From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
hold
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From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
huddled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
matches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
Robin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
signs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
threatened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
tide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
unshadowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
vaultnounUS /vɔːlt/
a stone room, often below a church, used for burial
From this reading Perhaps, if she could fix her eyes on the vault full of stars, she could keep herself from going out of her mind.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She did this in the effort to hold in check a rising tide of frenzy which threatened her.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went to the window and sat down on the floor, huddled against the wall with her hands clasped round her knees, looking up.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night sky was clear and brilliant with many stars, and this gave her an unshadowed and lighted space to look at.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading It was not utterly dark in the room, though Robin, after passing her hands carefully over the walls, had found no electric buttons within reach nor any signs of candles or matches elsewhere.
