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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 THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
absolutely
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From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
background
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
barked
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
bearing
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
buildings
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From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
church
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
churchyard
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
Constance
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
dark
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From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
darkness
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
disturbed
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
dog
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
down
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
dwelling
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From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
earliest
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
FERRY
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
front
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
furiously
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
gait
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
galloped
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
gate
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
ghostlike
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
graveyard
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
HAND
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
horse
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
houses
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From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
immaterial
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
indistinctly
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
like
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
lively
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
loomed
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
marble
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
moved
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
noise
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
Now
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
old
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
out
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
outlined
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
place
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
principal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
ran
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
river
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
road
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
Saint-Prosper
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From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
settlers
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
slabs
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
sod
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
spirits
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
steeple
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
there
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From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
thoroughfare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading THE HAND FERRY At a lively gait down the road toward the river galloped the horse bearing Saint-Prosper and Constance.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
unusual
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From this reading At one place a dog ran out to the front gate, disturbed by the unusual noise on the road, and barked furiously, but they moved rapidly on.
vanished
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
weirdly
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From this reading Now the steeple of the old church loomed weirdly against the dark background of the sky and then vanished.
well
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From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The thoroughfare was deserted and the dwelling houses as well as the principal buildings of the town were absolutely dark.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On; on, they went, past the churchyard, with its marble slabs indistinctly outlined in the darkness, like a phantom graveyard, as immaterial and ghostlike itself as the spirits of the earliest settlers at rest there beneath the sod.