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 A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
activity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
Africa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
Air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
anyway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
British
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
colonial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
continent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
Dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
East
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
enemy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
flew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
German
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
Harold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
headquarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
Hun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
landed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
Lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
march
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
marching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
OfprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
Percy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
permits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
preposterous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
reconnaissance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
reinforce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
report
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
Royal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
rumor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
searching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
Service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
signs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
Sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
Smith-Oldwick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
ThereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
troops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact the new army was supposed to be no more than ten or twelve days' march to the west.
uninvestigated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course the thing was ridiculous--preposterous--but preposterous things often happen in war; and anyway no good general permits the least rumor of enemy activity to go uninvestigated.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dropped from the Sky Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick, Royal Air Service, was on reconnaissance.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Therefore Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick flew low toward the west, searching with keen eyes for signs of a Hun army.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A report, or it would be better to say a rumor, had come to the British headquarters in German East Africa that the enemy had landed in force on the west coast and was marching across the dark continent to reinforce their colonial troops.
