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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 Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
advanced
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
air
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
all
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From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
anxious
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
attempting
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
back
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
Ballingall
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
bearing
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
bristling
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
closer
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
curiously
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
designed
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
door
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
Ella
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
farther
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
front
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
fumbling
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
Graham
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
hairs
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
heard
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
insert
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
instant's
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
Instinctively
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
Jack
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
just
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
latchkey
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
Madge
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
meaning
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From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
moved
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
neighbourhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
nestling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
perturbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
place
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
placing
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
pregnant
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From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
protective
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From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
sake
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
side
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
some
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
stillness
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
suggested
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From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
terrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
there
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From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
TWO
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From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
unaccustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
VISITORS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TWO VISITORS Instinctively Ella drew closer to Jack, nestling at his side, as if for the sake of the near neighbourhood.
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And all was still--with that sort of silence which is pregnant with meaning.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Ballingall moved farther towards the window, with that in his bearing which curiously suggested the bristling hairs of the perturbed and anxious terrier.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Graham advanced towards Madge, placing himself just at her back, with a something protective in his air--as if he designed to place himself in front of her at an instant's warning.
WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without in the stillness, there could be plainly heard the fumbling of the latchkey, as if some one, with unaccustomed hands, was attempting to insert it in the door.
