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 “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
double
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
evanescent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
foreseen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
fusillade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
gliding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
glinting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
helmsman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
incomplete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
leapingnounUS /ˈleaping/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
Looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
mad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/
from a ship into the water
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
overhanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
pilot-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
rifle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
shutter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
shutter-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
squirts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
tore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
traversed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
twigs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
vague
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Something big appeared in the air before the shutter, the rifle went overboard, and the man stepped back swiftly, looked at me over his shoulder in an extraordinary, profound, familiar manner, and fell upon my feet.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
whirl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We tore slowly along the overhanging bushes in a whirl of broken twigs and flying leaves.
whizz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I threw my head back to a glinting whizz that traversed the pilot-house, in at one shutter-hole and out at the other.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The fusillade below stopped short, as I had foreseen it would when the squirts got empty.
yelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking past that mad helmsman, who was shaking the empty rifle and yelling at the shore, I saw vague forms of men running bent double, leaping, gliding, distinct, incomplete, evanescent.
