Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
absorbs
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From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
accident
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From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
all
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From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
BAAS
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From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
bowed
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From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
circle
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From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
clear
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From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
cold
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From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
days
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From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
down
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From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
drowsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
due
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From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a sudden violent burst of sound or force
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
far
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From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
fruitful
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From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
Glencader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
glimmering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
haggard
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From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
imprisoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
lives
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From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
malevolence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
mattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
MinepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
mother-earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
offer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
OrconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
outrage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
produce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
results
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
serene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
solitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
stark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
takes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
underground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
Wailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It mattered little whether malevolence had planned the outrage in the mine, or whether accident alone had been responsible; the results were the same.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was serene and quiet, clear and cold, with glimmering stars and no moon, and the wide circle of the hills was drowsy with night and darkness.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
woebegone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
womb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Or was it that they lay dead in that vast womb of mother-earth which takes all men of all time as they go, and absorbs them into her fruitful body, to produce other men who will in due days return to the same great mother to rest and be still?
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BAAS There had been an explosion in the Glencader Mine, and twenty men had been imprisoned in the stark solitude of the underground world.
wrung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wailing, woebegone women wrung their hands, and haggard, determined men stood by with bowed heads, ready to offer their lives to save those other lives far down below, if so be it were possible.
