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17th
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From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There could be no doubt about it!
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
appeared
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From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
attempted
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
Ayrton
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From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
balloon
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There could be no doubt about it!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
bird
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
castaways
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
chance
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
circumstances
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From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
colony
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From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
communicate
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
communication
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
confiding
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
contained
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There could be no doubt about it!
day
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From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
doubt
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From this reading There could be no doubt about it!
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
fellow-creatures
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
impossible
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
inhabited
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
ISLAND
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From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
join
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
letter
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
Lincoln
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
men
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From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
October
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
Once
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From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
reckon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
related
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
reporter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
seriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Ayrton, alone, under the circumstances which have been related, had come to join the little colony.
unexpectedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, suddenly, on this day, the 17th of October, other men had unexpectedly appeared in sight of the island, on that deserted sea!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once the reporter had attempted to communicate with the inhabited world by confiding to a bird a letter which contained the secret of their situation, but that was a chance on which it was impossible to reckon seriously.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SECRET OF THE ISLAND It was now two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island, and during that period there had been no communication between them and their fellow-creatures.