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 There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
AboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
accomplished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
afar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
anchor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
apparently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
declivities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
descried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
deviating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
distinguishable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
extended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
gorges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
height
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
hewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
impregnable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
inland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
latitudes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
MORNINGnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
parts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
PORCH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
rampart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
Sheer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
ships
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
sloped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
smoothly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
steep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
summit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
tortuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
upward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
utmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sheer and almost smoothly hewn from the utmost coast of the island rose to a height of several hundred feet one scarcely deviating wall of rock; and this apparently impregnable wall extended in either direction as far as the sight could reach.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Above the natural rampart the land sloped upward still in steep declivities, but cut by tortuous gorges, and afar inland rose the mountain upon whose summit the light had been descried.
wont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There it lay, a thing of rock and green, like the islands of its sister latitudes before which the passing ships of all the world are wont to cast anchor.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But having once cast anchor before Yaque the ships of all the world would have had great difficulty in landing anybody.
Yaque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PORCH OF THE MORNING By afternoon the island of Yaque was an accomplished fact of distinguishable parts.