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 At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
airless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
Alphin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
bemused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
bulk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
burden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
ceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
Certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
competence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
desperately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kim was desperately hungry.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
exactly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
frenzied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
frowsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
gravity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
hungry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kim was desperately hungry.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
II
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
III
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
inner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
Kim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kim was desperately hungry.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
lesser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
normal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
operation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
planet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
purposefulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
serene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
slim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
space-ship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
space-suit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
staggered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
starved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
swam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
thinned-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She came to rest upon the almost but not quite airless bulk of Alphin II some thirty hours after her escape from Alphin III.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But for the lesser gravity of the smaller inner planet, which was responsible for its thinned-out atmosphere, he might have staggered as he walked.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At last, as if having her drive finally in operation gave her something of purposefulness, the slim space-ship ceased to look frenzied or frowsy or bemused, and swam through space with a serene competence, like something very much alive and knowing exactly what she was about.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Certainly a normal space-suit would have been a heavy burden for a man who had starved for days.
