adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
colossaladjectiveUS /kəˈlɑːsəl/
so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
columnedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːləmd/
having or resembling columns; having columns of a specified kind (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
cradled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It did not glide--it strode.
easilyadverbUS /ˈiːzəli/
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
forestnounUS /ˈfɔːrəst/
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
foundationsnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/
plural of “foundation” — the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
gigantically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
glideverbUS /ɡlaɪd/
move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading It did not glide--it strode.
gunsnounUS /ɡʌnz/
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
jointsnounUS /dʒɔɪnts/
plural of “joint” — (anatomy) the point of connection between two bones or elements of a skeleton (especially if it allows motion)
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
legsnounUS /leɡz/
staying power
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
machinelikeadjective
resembling the unthinking functioning of a machine
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
massiveadjectiveUS /ˈmæsɪv/
imposing in size or bulk or solidity
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
mastodonnounUS /ˈmæstədɔːn/
extinct elephant-like mammal that flourished worldwide from Miocene through Pleistocene times; differ from mammoths in the form of the molar teeth
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It did not glide--it strode.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
padsnounUS /pædz/
plural of “pad” — a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
pedestalsnounUS /ˈpedəstəlz/
plural of “pedestal” — a support or foundation
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
precisionnounUS /priˈsɪʒən/
the quality of being reproducible in amount or performance
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
reedsnounUS /riːdz/
plural of “reed” — tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
rodeverbUS /roʊd/
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
sixteen-inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
SmoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
stampingverbUS /ˈstæmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “stamp” — walk heavily
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading It did not glide--it strode.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading The columned legs raised themselves, bending from a thousand joints.
treadverbUS /tred/
put down or press the foot, place the foot
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
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 Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Smoothly moved the colossal shape; on it we rode as easily as though cradled.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Under their tread the trees of the forest snapped, were crushed like reeds beneath the pads of a mastodon.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The pedestals of the feet, huge and massive as foundations for sixteen-inch guns, fell with machinelike precision, stamping gigantically.
