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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 DISCOVERING A PLOT.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
army
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From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
bridge
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From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
bridges
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From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
building
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From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
cadets
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From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
carrying
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From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
class
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From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
competent
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From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
corps
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From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
cross
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From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
day
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From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
DISCOVERING
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From this reading DISCOVERING A PLOT.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
doing
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From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
drill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
engineering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
eyes
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From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
fastening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
four
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From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
fully
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From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
giving
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From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
handling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
includes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
logs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
plebes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
PLOT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DISCOVERING A PLOT.
PointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
pontoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
practicing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
Sam's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
share
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
superiors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
watchful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The cadets were building a pontoon bridge, the second one that summer.
West
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading This, of course, includes the building of bridges upon which an army may cross a river or stream; it was that the corps was practicing that day.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cadets of the first class were the “engineering corps” and they were giving the orders; the plebes, quite naturally, were doing the work, carrying out the heavy logs and fastening them in place under the watchful eyes of their superiors.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cadets when they leave West Point after their four years of drill and study are supposed to be fully competent officers, ready to do their share of handling Uncle Sam’s army.
