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 Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
aircraft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
backwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
battalion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
boomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
CAPTIVES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
drone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
EvernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
forwardsnounUS /ˈforwards/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/
wide open
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
German
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
glimpses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
guns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
officer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
portions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
PRISONERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
rafters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
ruins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
savagely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever the guns boomed savagely from beyond.
sentries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
shell-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
sneer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
torn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES The church was half in ruins.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The drone of aircraft came from above, through the holes where the rafters showed black against the sky.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Great portions of the roof had been torn away by shell-fire, and there were gaping holes in the walls through which could be caught glimpses of sentries going backwards and forwards.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes a grey battalion swung by; sometimes a German officer peered in curiously, with a sneer on his lips.
