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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 ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After that you can easily throw it down.’
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading ‘And what am I to do?’
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘And what am I to do?’
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
becomes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
bring
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From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
burnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading After that you can easily throw it down.’
caught
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From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
collect
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From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
coral
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From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
death
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From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading ‘And what am I to do?’
down
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From this reading After that you can easily throw it down.’
easily
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From this reading After that you can easily throw it down.’
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
fetch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
Halfman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘And what am I to do?’
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
ogre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
ordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
overthrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
relation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
relations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading After that you can easily throw it down.’
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After that you can easily throw it down.’
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ‘And what am I to do?’
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
Very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘And what am I to do?’
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The men did as they were ordered, and soon the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and were burnt to death.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘Very good,’ said the ogre, and he went round to every relation he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower where Halfman was.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn till the tower becomes red hot.
