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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Miss Drake paused on the knoll, and looked about her.
air
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
all
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
blue
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
blur
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
breath
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
clouds
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From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
contour
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
cool
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
corn
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From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
countryside
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From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
disturb
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
Drake
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From this reading Miss Drake paused on the knoll, and looked about her.
dry
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
DUTYnounUS /ˈduːti/
a responsibility that must be carried out
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
enough
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
faint
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
felt
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
field
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
FromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
gap
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From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
grace
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
gratitude
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Drake paused on the knoll, and looked about her.
icy
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
insect-voices
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
knoll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
land
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
level
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From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
Like
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From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
liquid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Miss Drake paused on the knoll, and looked about her.
melted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
mirrors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
Miss
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From this reading Miss Drake paused on the knoll, and looked about her.
myriad
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
OFF
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From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
parching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
patched
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From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
paused
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From this reading Miss Drake paused on the knoll, and looked about her.
poured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
pulsation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
reflected
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From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
rice-fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
ridges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
ripe
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From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
roofs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
sinuous
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From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
streamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
sunlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
tender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
tiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
tropically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
undulating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the shadow of clouds on ripe corn, the red tiles of the village roofs patched the countryside.
western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading OFF DUTY The last of the sunlight streamed level through a gap in the western ridges.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It melted, with sinuous, tender shadows, the dry contour of field and knoll, and poured over all the parching land a liquid, undulating grace.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading From the distant sea had come a breath of air, cool enough to be felt with gratitude, yet so faint as neither to disturb the dry pulsation of myriad insect-voices, nor to blur the square mirrors of distant rice-fields, still tropically blue or icy with reflected clouds.
