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Cities in the air
Cities in the air

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Cities in the air
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.
I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.
And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.
Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.
Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Cities in the air

Chapter III

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.
Line 2
I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.
Line 3
And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.
Line 4
Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.
Line 5
Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.”

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.”

Peering verb US /ˈpɪrɪŋ/

looking closely or carefully

From this reading “Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

ahead

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

Air

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

also

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

battle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

bulks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

Chief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

crossed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

cruiser

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

cruisers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

depths

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

detonating

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

downward

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

drone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

European

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

figure

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

fleets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

gleamed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

Green

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

guns

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

holding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

impressions

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

looking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

Macklin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

merged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

mingled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

moment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

moments

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

motors

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

ocean's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

ones

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

peaceful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

PeeringverbUS /ˈpɪrɪŋ/

looking closely or carefully

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

phantasmagoria

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

plunging

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

rushing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

saw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

Sea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

shafts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

shot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

shouts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

stabbed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

strange

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

surface

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

swirled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

swung

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

tensed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

Then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Then I saw before us, the cruisers of the First Air Chief and those about him, dark long bulks that gleamed there in the depths beneath us as the yellow shafts of light struck and crossed them.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I had shot under the ocean's surface in my cruiser many a time before, but never in battle.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

wheel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Peering downward, figure tensed over the wheel, Macklin was holding the cruiser behind those rushing ones ahead, and now, looking away to the right, I could make out the dark, long bulks of the European cruisers also.

wild

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And now, with our two great fleets plunging down into those peaceful depths, all about me seemed for a moment a strange dream.

yellow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Under the Sea Green depths that swirled about us, shafts of yellow light that swung and stabbed through them, rushing cruisers and detonating guns and drone of motors and wild shouts--all these merged and mingled in one great phantasmagoria of strange impressions in those first moments.