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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
AgainstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
agglomeration
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
artist
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
background
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
backgrounds
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
banked
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From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
BATTLE
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
black
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From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
broke
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
burden
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From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
buttresses
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From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
calling
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
cliff-top
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
cliffs
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
cloud
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From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
cloud-masonry
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From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
crimson
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From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
dazzling
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
effect
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
encircling
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
endlessly
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
eye
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
fallen
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
familiar
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
feature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
Fleet
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
girdle
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
Grand
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
gulls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
headland
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
inky
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From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
lurid
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
masts
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From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
note
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From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
NTH
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
oddly
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From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
outstretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
peak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
poster
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
promontory
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From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
propaganda
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
reft
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From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
rested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
secured
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From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
shafts
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From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
shroud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
sombre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
split
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
SQUADRON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
structures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
sunset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
superimposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
surf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
Thule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
tripod
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
Ultima
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
unappeased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against this background lay the Grand Fleet, an agglomeration of tripod masts and superimposed structures, as familiar a feature of the scene as the surf that broke endlessly about the cliffs, or the unappeased calling of the gulls.
unfamiliar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
unshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Great buttresses of cloud, inky black with their burden of unshed snow, were banked about the sunset.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwɛstwərd/
toward the west
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow that had fallen during the past week rested like a shroud upon peak and headland, promontory and cliff-top, encircling the sombre waters of Ultima Thule with a dazzling white girdle.
wing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A little to the westward, however, where the cloud-masonry was split and reft by crimson shafts of light, an outstretched wing of the vast battle fleet struck an oddly unfamiliar note.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE NTH BATTLE SQUADRON No propaganda poster artist with an eye to lurid backgrounds could have secured such an effect.
