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 All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
altogether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
beaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
brush-patches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
considered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
desolation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
excepts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
extent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
extravagantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
finish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
glimpses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
hangman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
humanity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
joyous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
knot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
lift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
noose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SPOILS OF WAR.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
outlook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
plunderers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
recollect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
regardless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
remembering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
sand-bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
smoldering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
speedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
SPOILS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPOILS OF WAR.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
sundry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SPOILS OF WAR.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
tongues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
trial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The fire by this time had, to a great extent, beaten itself out on the opposite bank, and with nothing left but a few smoldering brush-patches, the smoke continued to lift and give us sundry glimpses of the black desolation that spread to the north.
wagged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
WAR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SPOILS OF WAR.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I recollect that we shook hands all around, and that our tongues wagged extravagantly, regardless of whoever else might be speaking.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading All things considered, it was a joyous knot of humanity that gathered on that sand-bar--if one excepts the two plunderers who were tied hard and fast, their most cheerful outlook a speedy trial with a hangman's noose at the finish.
woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We settled down before long, however, remembering that we were not altogether out of the woods.
