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 say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
await
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
bath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
boiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
couch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
dancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we watched in intense excitement.
failure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
fog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
hopeful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
improved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only for an instant was this luminous promise vouchsafed.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we watched in intense excitement.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
landscape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
lightness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
limited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
luminous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only for an instant was this luminous promise vouchsafed.
medium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
moss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
occasional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only for an instant was this luminous promise vouchsafed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
overhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only for an instant was this luminous promise vouchsafed.
radius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
revelations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
Russian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
shifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
silvery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
spectral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
splendornounUS /ˈsplen.dər/
Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur and brilliance.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
stirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
Sybarite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Only for an instant was this luminous promise vouchsafed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
viewing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
volatile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
vouchsafed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only for an instant was this luminous promise vouchsafed.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But we watched in intense excitement.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I say, appeared to be; for we stood in thick fog or in the heart of clouds which limited our dim view to a radius of twenty feet.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a warm and cheerful fog, stirred by little wind, but moving, shifting, and boiling as by its own volatile nature, rolling up black from below and dancing in silvery splendor overhead As a fog it could not have been improved; as a medium for viewing the landscape it was a failure and we lay down upon the Sybarite couch of moss, as in a Russian bath, to await revelations.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading We waited two hours without change, except an occasional hopeful lightness in the fog above, and at last the appearance for a moment of the spectral sun.
