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 It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
accustom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
actual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
appear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
awaited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
begins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
dawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
describes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
diamonds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
endless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
extreme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
Feast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
fireworks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
firmament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
Foreigners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
glow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
golden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
half-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
harder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
impatiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
Jupiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
lasts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
luminary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
marvellous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
Masinka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
Neva
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
North
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
orbit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
planets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
RENDEZVOUS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
severity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
superfluous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pale moon describes its short orbit, a superfluous luminary; and on the Feast of Masinka the half-hour of actual night is impatiently awaited, in order to let off fireworks on the forty islands of the Neva.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RENDEZVOUS There is something marvellous in the summer nights of the extreme North.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The evening glow lasts till midnight, and then begins the dawn.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
Venus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems endless until the first stars appear in the still, clear sky, and under them the brilliant planets Venus and Jupiter, burning in the firmament like diamonds on the surface of a golden lake.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Foreigners find it harder to accustom themselves to them than they do to the long winter nights with their cruel severity.
