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 Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
aliens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
area
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
brief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
clutching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
connected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
contact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
continent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
determine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
dwindling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
hugeness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
immediacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
impressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
infinite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
intimate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
Julia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
location
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
planet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
star-set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
suck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
supine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
telepathic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had pointed out as nearly as he could determine it from brief, telepathic contact (the aliens showed him how to center on her) Julia's location on the planet.
tenuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
ThroughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
unpopulated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The aliens had promised to land him in an unpopulated area on the same part of the continent.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
viewplate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the viewplate above him--he was supine--the vast, star-set blackness seemed infinite, seemed to suck his mind out of his body until it was connected only by a tenuous thread.
Walt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The thing Walt first noticed was the hugeness of space around his tiny, falling ship.
wheel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
wrapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had seen space from the great wheel that was dwindling behind him; but never before had its immediacy been impressed on him with such force: here, it was an intimate wrapping, clutching at him from all sides.
