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 As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
attempting
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From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
Battle
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From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
circle
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
cleared
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
cooled
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From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
crimson
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
direction
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
disappear
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
down
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From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
dreading
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
empty
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
escape
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From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
fascination
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
fate
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
flying
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
hopeless
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
horror
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
hour
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From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
hypnotic
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
investigate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
lair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
Lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
lower
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
Melvar
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From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
Mist
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From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
moment
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
pencils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
perhaps
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From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
presumably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
resigned
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From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
roar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
rolling
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From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
sat
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From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
Silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a feeling of resigned and hopeless horror, we saw one of the crimson pencils circle lower about the place, then disappear in the direction of its lair beyond the Silver Lake.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
tracks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
uselessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
vague
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From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The ground was still too hot for us to walk upon, and we felt the uselessness of attempting to escape on foot, even if it had already cooled.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The Battle in the Mist For perhaps an hour we sat there on the rock.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
whistling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even as the whistling roar of its passage was rolling down upon us, Melvar spoke.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As soon as the smoke cleared, we could see the crimson needles flying high upon their vague red tracks, and we watched them with a sort of hypnotic fascination, dreading the moment when one of them would land to investigate the fate of the ship that lay silent and presumably empty before us.