adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
biscuit's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
blankadjectiveUS /blæŋk/
(of a surface) not written or printed on
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
blewverbUS /bluː/
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
ChannelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
clearverbUS /klɪr/
rid of obstructions
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
CorporalnounUS /ˈkɔːrpərəl/
a noncommissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marines
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/
money collected under a tariff
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
dismallyadverbUS /ˈdɪzməli/
in a cheerless manner
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
examiningverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
flag-mast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
flappingnounUS /ˈflæpɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “There was a message for you, sir,” said the Corporal.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
gangwaynoun
a temporary passageway of planks (as over mud on a building site)
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
illuminatedadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈluːməneɪtəd/
provided with artificial light
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
knife-edgenoun
a narrow boundary
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
lanyards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
latteradjectiveUS /ˈlætər/
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
leaveverbUS /liːv/
go away from a place
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
linenounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
linkverbUS /lɪŋk/
make a logical or causal connection
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
messagenounUS /ˈmesədʒ/
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading “There was a message for you, sir,” said the Corporal.
METAMORPHOSISnounUS /ˌmet.əˈmɔːr.fə.sɪs/
A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one.
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
MilitaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
north-eastadverbUS /ˌnɔːrˈθiːst/
to, toward, or in the northeast
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
Okewood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
passverbUS /pæs/
go across or through
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
PolicenounUS /pəˈliːs/
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
quayside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
returningadjectiveUS /rɪˈtɜːrnɪŋ/
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “There was a message for you, sir,” said the Corporal.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
sirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading “There was a message for you, sir,” said the Corporal.
stationnounUS /ˈsteɪʃən/
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There was a message for you, sir,” said the Corporal.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
throwverbUS /θroʊ/
propel through the air
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
trainverbUS /treɪn/
create by training and teaching
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading METAMORPHOSIS It was a clear, cold night.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The Corporal of Military Police, who stood at the gangway examining the passes, stopped Desmond Okewood as the latter held out his pass into the rays of the man’s lantern.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A knife-edge icy wind blew from the north-east and kept the lanyards dismally flapping on the flag-mast over the customs house.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The leave train lay in the station within a biscuit’s throw of the quayside and the black, blank Channel beyond, a long line of cheerfully illuminated windows that to those returning from leave seemed as the last link with home.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “There was a message for you, sir,” said the Corporal.
