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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 “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
battered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
blocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
brigands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
cigarette
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From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
columns
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From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
dog's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
eye
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From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
frame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
heavily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
ikonostasis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
landscape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
luxuriating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
Maurice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
Milosch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
Most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
narthex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
prisoners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
Rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
remains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
ruined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
underground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
Vlasto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
warmth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The girls sat on the top step behind him, looking out through the ruined west doorway, the lower part of which was blocked by the remains of the narthex.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rain was falling heavily, and they could not go out, but between the battered columns they could see the wild mountain landscape like a picture in a frame.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Most of the brigands were luxuriating in the warmth of the underground kitchen, but the chief, with Milosch and Vlasto, had gone out into the rain some time before, and Zeko and one other were keeping an eye upon the prisoners.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I should have thought you had rather a good time, on the whole,” said Maurice, who was sitting on the steps below the _ikonostasis_.
Zeko
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “It’s a dog’s life!” said Zeko, leaning against one of the columns of the deserted church, and rolling a cigarette.