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 A DISAPPOINTMENT.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
branches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
chanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
circumference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
considerably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
depth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
DISAPPOINTMENTnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A DISAPPOINTMENT.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
encouraging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
entangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
MoreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
orange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
packed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
pushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, there was a full moon, just pushing its deep orange circumference above the horizon.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
runners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
skeleton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
sleighing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
struggling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
temperature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could not have been a better night for sleighing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It had chanced to come up just where a black skeleton forest stood out against the sky, encouraging the fancy that it had somehow got entangled in the branches, and had grown red in the face from struggling to get out.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The temperature had risen considerably since the storm, and the snow, which had fallen to the depth of a foot, was already packed down hard upon the road, so that the runners seldom sank beneath the surface.
