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 Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
afar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
akin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
bounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
bushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
chirped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
crag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
daylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
disturbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
Edmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
emeraldnounUS /ˈemərəld/
a bright green precious stone
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
glittering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
goats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
God
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
grasshoppers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
guided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
hidden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
hues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/
too intense to describe too intense or unusual to describe clearly
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
lizards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
meridian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
monotonous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
myrtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
olive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
rays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
scorching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
sensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
Thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
waved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading He felt an indescribable sensation somewhat akin to dread—that dread of the daylight which even in the desert makes us fear we are watched and observed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sun had nearly reached the meridian, and his scorching rays fell full on the rocks, which seemed themselves sensible of the heat.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At every step that Edmond took he disturbed the lizards glittering with the hues of the emerald; afar off he saw the wild goats bounding from crag to crag.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Thousands of grasshoppers, hidden in the bushes, chirped with a monotonous and dull note; the leaves of the myrtle and olive trees waved and rustled in the wind.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading In a word, the island was inhabited, yet Edmond felt himself alone, guided by the hand of God.
