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 They were doing a thriving business.
afford
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From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
American
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From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
appalling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
bombardment
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From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were doing a thriving business.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
citizen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
Complacent
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From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
crying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
deed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
descriptions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
destruction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were doing a thriving business.
dripping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
enemies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
extras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
fellow-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
France
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
fronts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
HOARSE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
indifferent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
Jersey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
newsboys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
peril
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
perpetrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
plant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
raucous-voiced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
realizaton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
Reynolds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
rivalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
sanguine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
scorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
security
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
shell-carnage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
shock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
spectacular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
stalked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
sustain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Complacent security was at last to sustain a shock it could not afford to scorn.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were doing a thriving business.
thriving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were doing a thriving business.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
toll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
Up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
violence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
vivid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up there in the hills of Jersey a bombardment had taken place that rivalled in violence, if not in human toll, the most vivid descriptions of shell-carnage on the dripping fronts of France.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The destruction of the great Reynolds plant, more spectacular and more appalling than any previous deed perpetrated by the secret enemies of the American people, was to drive even the most sanguine and indifferent citizen to a full realizaton of the peril that stalked him and his fellow-man throughout the land.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading |HOARSE, raucous-voiced newsboys were crying the “extras” soon after midnight.
