adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
banknounUS /bæŋk/
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
breakverbUS /breɪk/
terminate
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
BroadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
bubbleverbUS /ˈbʌbəl/
form, produce, or emit bubbles
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
bulrushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
currentnounUS /ˈkɜːrənt/
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
desertverbUS /ˈdezərt/
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
diversifyverbUS /daɪˈvɜːrsəfaɪ/
make (more) diverse
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
flowedverbUS /floʊd/
past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
giganticadjectiveUS /dʒaɪˈɡæntɪk/
so exceedingly large or extensive as to suggest a giant or mammoth
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
healthnounUS /helθ/
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
hidverbUS /hɪd/
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
hillocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
livesnounUS /lɪvz/
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
meanverbUS /miːn/
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/
the light of the Moon
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
patchesnounUS /ˈpætʃəz/
plural of “patch” — a small contrasting part of something
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
poisoningnounUS /ˈpɔɪzənɪŋ/
the physiological state produced by a poison or other toxic substance
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
ranknounUS /ræŋk/
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
rocknounUS /rɑːk/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
sandnounUS /sænd/
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
sidenounUS /saɪd/
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
sluggishadjectiveUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/
moving slowly
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
spottedadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːtɪd/
having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
stealthyadjectiveUS /ˈstelθi/
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
sullenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌlən/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
surfacenounUS /ˈsɜːrfəs/
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
throwverbUS /θroʊ/
propel through the air
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
ugliestadjectiveUS /ˈʌɡliəst/
superlative of “ugly” — displeasing to the senses
From this reading I stood alone on the bank of the ugliest stream in England.
uncloudedadjective
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
underminingverbUS /ˈʌndərmaɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “undermine” — destroy property or hinder normal operations
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The moonlight, pouring its unclouded radiance over open space, failed to throw a beauty not their own on those sluggish waters.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading On the opposite bank, a rank growth of gigantic bulrushes hid the ground beyond, except where it rose in hillocks, and showed its surface of desert sand spotted here and there by mean patches of health.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the side from which I was looking at the river, the neglected trees grew so close together that they were undermining their own lives, and poisoning each other.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Broad and muddy, their stealthy current flowed onward to the sea, without a rock to diversify, without a bubble to break, the sullen surface.
