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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 His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
clearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
end
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From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
essayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
fence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
fringe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
halted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
like
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From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
lurk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
mere
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From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
mile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
openness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
repugnant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
rifle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rifle, a score of them, a thousand, might lurk in that fringe by the stream.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
Twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Twice he essayed to start, and twice he paused.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
venturing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a mere quarter of a mile across that open, but the thought of venturing out in it was repugnant.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His progress was more rapid now, as he came down into the valley, and at the end of half an hour he halted at an ancient rail fence on the edge of a clearing.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He did not like the openness of it, yet his path lay across to the fringe of trees that marked the banks of the stream.
