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 STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
afforded
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From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
air
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
all
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From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
anxious
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From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
athwartnounUS /ˈathwart/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
barely
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From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
better
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From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
big
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From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
birches
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From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
bitter
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
boulder
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From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
boulders
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From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
clouds
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
clump
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From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
crusted
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From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
curtain
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From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
dark
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From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
dense
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From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
distinguishable
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From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
drawing
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From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
dry
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
eagerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
falling
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From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
far
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From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
filled
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
filmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
fire
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
flakes
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From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
frozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
glow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
growth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
hollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
leaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
Lisle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
NEWS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
northern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
outlined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
radiance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
ragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
shapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
snowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
STARTLING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
straining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
stunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
tent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A straining tent stood near the fire, but the big stone afforded better shelter, and drawing hard upon his pipe, he listened eagerly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading So far the uncertain radiance reached when the fire leaped up, but outside it all was shut in by a dense curtain of falling snow.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
whirled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
a wild area where few people live
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
willows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A clump of boulders stood outlined beside a frozen river, and behind the boulders a growth of willows rose crusted with snow, while beyond them, barely distinguishable, were the stunted shapes of a few birches.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading STARTLING NEWS It was snowing in the northern wilderness and the bitter air was filled with small, dry flakes, which whirled in filmy clouds athwart the red glow of a fire.
wrapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had been dark for some time, and Lisle was getting anxious as he lay, wrapped in a ragged skin coat, in a hollow beside a boulder.
