Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
Alan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
approximately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
aspen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
bored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
citadelnounUS /ˈsɪt.ə.del/
A fortress protecting a city, metaphorically representing the invincible inner sanctuary of the rational mind.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
clan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
clan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
definitely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But the telling was different.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
extinction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/
an action or decision that shows a lack of good judgment
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
grove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
hill-top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
mouthed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
myth-legend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
plan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
protected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
race
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
shots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
sterilie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
teaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
telling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
Turtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
unbelieving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had been teaching them myth-legend and, as usual, the girls were bored and unbelieving, the boys open mouthed.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading As a boy of ten, before it was definitely known whether or not he was a sterilie, he had sat at the feet of the Turtle clan's husband as open mouthed as those who sat at his feet now.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
Wolf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Alan's plan might save the race from extinction--but he was the clan's only husband and had to be protected from his own folly...._ Before the first shots rang out, Alan had been sitting with some twenty young people of the Wolf clan in a grove of aspen approximately half way between the fields and the citadel on the hill-top.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He realized, even as he spoke, that the telling had changed even since his own youth.
