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 They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
afford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They can afford it," she murmured.
ahorse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
asylum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading They can afford it," she murmured.
chatted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
defense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
dismissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
distributed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
half-encircling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
hollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
knots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
leisure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
lolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
lookout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
methodically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
murmured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They can afford it," she murmured.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
posted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
quieted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
QuitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
rested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
sentry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They can afford it," she murmured.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
Sioux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
string
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
SUMMONSnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
an official order to appear or respond
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
tenanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They will wait, too.
tribute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
WAIT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
WEpronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading WE WAIT THE SUMMONS The Sioux had quieted.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Quite methodically, and with cruel show of leisure they distributed themselves by knots, in a half-encircling string around our asylum; they posted a sentry, ahorse, as a lookout; and lolling upon the bare ground in the sun glare they chatted, laughed, rested, but never for an instant were we dismissed from their eyes and thoughts.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "They will wait, too.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They let the hollow alone, tenanted as it was with death; there was for us a satisfaction in that tribute to our defense.
