Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the inquiring verb asking chamber and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he had passed the night. cunningly adverb cleverly Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! At Grade fluently adverb in a freely flowing No doubt I now grew VERY pale; but I talked more fluently, and with way a heightened voice. resembled verb looked like One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture -- a pale blue eye with a film over it. At Grade acute adjective sharp Above all was the sense of hearing acute. And this I did for seven long nights, every night just at midnight, but I vexed verb tormented found the eye always closed, and so it was impossible to do the work, for it was not the old man who vexed me but his Evil Eye. At Grade hypocritical adjective fake I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! steps taken to precautions noun prevent a bad outcome If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. At Grade scarcely adverb barely I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. At Grade foresight noun planning You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution -- with what foresight, with what dissimulation, I went to work! 1
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put sufficient adjective enough in a dark lantern all closed, closed so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. At Grade proceeded verb continued You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution -- with what foresight, with what dissimulation, I went to work! And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that mournful adjective gloomy caused him to feel, although he neither saw nor heard, to feel the presence of my head within the room. So I opened it -- you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily -- until stealthily adverb sneakily at length a single dim ray like the thread of the spider shot out from the crevice and fell upon the vulture eye. When I had waited a long time very patiently without hearing him lie resolved verb decided down, I resolved to open a little -- a very, very little crevice in the lantern. At Grade At Grade hideous adjective horrible audacity noun boldness I saw it with perfect distinctness -- all a dull blue with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones, but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person, for I had directed the ray as if by instinct precisely upon the damned spot. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim. derision noun scorn Anything was more tolerable than this derision! vehemently adverb forcefully I talked more quickly, more vehemently but the noise steadily increased. At Grade tolerable adjective bearable Anything was more tolerable than this derision! At Grade 2
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word reposed verb lay In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in At Grade the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim. 3
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word enveloped verb surrounded ALL IN VAIN, because Death in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him and enveloped the victim. stimulates verb excites It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage. wary adjective careful I had been too wary for that. At Grade contrary noun opposite the jurors ought to be told in all cases that every man is to be presumed to be sane, and to possess a sufficient degree of reason to be responsible for his crimes, until the contrary be proved to their satisfaction; and that to establish a defence on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, At Grade the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or, if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong. observe verb watch Hearken! and observe how healthily, how calmly, I can tell you the whole story. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the courageously adverb bravely chamber and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he had passed the night. sagacity noun wisdom Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers, of my sagacity. At Grade awe noun terror It was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe When I had waited a long time very patiently without hearing him lie crevice noun crack down, I resolved to open a little -- a very, very little crevice in the lantern. At Grade 4
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word dull adjective dim precisely adverb exactly I saw it with perfect distinctness -- all a dull blue with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones, but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person, for I had directed the ray as if by instinct precisely upon the damned spot. I saw it with perfect distinctness -- all a dull blue with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones, but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person, for I had directed the ray as if by instinct precisely upon the damned spot. At Grade waned verb went away, bit by bit The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. At Grade premises noun property A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises. singularly adverb remarkably I was singularly at ease. At Grade heightened adjective raised No doubt I now grew VERY pale; but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. precluded verb removed as an option this was a point definitively settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk At Grade impunity noun no penalty I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. At Grade definitively adverb finally and certainly this was a point definitively settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk retribution noun punishment A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. 5
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word deed noun action It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. accosted verb aggressively approached He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. At Grade numerous adjective many in number "The Montresors," I replied, "were a great numerous family." surmounted verb topped He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. At Grade obstinate adjective stubborn There was then a long and obstinate silence. At Grade subsided verb died down When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. bewildered adjective confused In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. At Grade resumed verb started again When at last the clanking subsided, I resumed the trowel, and finished without interruption the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh tier. clamoured verb shouted I replied to the yells of him who clamoured. At Grade surpassed verb went beyond I reechoed I aided I surpassed them in volume and in strength. At Grade 6
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word succession noun series A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back. partially adverb partly I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position. mortal noun human being For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. colossal adjective huge It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use in itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite. recoiling verb springing back "You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. "But let us proceed to the Amontillado." At Grade spacious adjective large At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. At Grade merely adverb only Merely this, and nothing more. aptly adverb rightly Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken stern adjective strict Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. At Grade desolate adjective alone Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted At Grade 7
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word entreating verb asking for "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door- Some late At Grade visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;- implore verb beg Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, "Sir," said At Grade I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; sought verb tried Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow distinctly adverb clearly Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. undaunted adjective brave Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted At Grade quaff verb drink Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" At Grade melancholy adjective sad Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore ominous adjective threatening thinking what this ominous bird of yore gaunt adjective thin and bony What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking "Nevermore." At Grade respite noun relief Respite- respite and nepenthe 8
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word laden adjective loaded Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore- At Grade divining verb guessing This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath wretch noun miserable outcast sent thee At Grade ghastly adjective like a ghost Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore- Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the countenance noun facial expression grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. At Grade decorum noun dignity Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. discourse noun speech Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly reclining verb leaning back This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining ungainly adjective awkward Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly At Grade placid adjective calm But the Raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only At Grade 9
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word absconded verb run away There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. At Grade I had told them that I should not return until the morning and had explicit adjective clear and specific given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. At Grade recognize the distinguish verb difference between You have been imposed upon; and as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado." afflicted adjective troubled "My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. extensive adjective large or lengthy "These vaults," he said, are extensive." quack noun fake In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack, but in the matter of old wines he was sincere. At Grade intermingling verb mixing together We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. At Grade grotesque adjective strange and shocking I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement -- a grotesque one. suppositions noun thoughts Yes he has been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions ; but he had found all in vain. At Grade marvelled verb was amazed Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly. 10
Source Reveal Word POS Definition Contextual Sentence Word conceived verb thought up It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain, but, once conceived, it haunted me day and night. beguiling verb charming Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. At Grade termination noun end Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see. ignoramus noun person who knows nothing. "He is an ignoramus," interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. At Grade progress noun movement forward circumscribing adjective surrounding In an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered. It seemed to have been constructed for no especial use in itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite. At Grade excessive adjective too much He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. At Grade insufferably adverb unbearably The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre. At Grade mockery noun joke They heard! they suspected! they knew! they were making a mockery of my horror! this I thought, and this I think. nature noun characteristics You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. 11