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 Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
bearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
bodies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
Bohemond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
bordered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
buried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
commanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
court-yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
Crusaders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
debris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
decomposition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
dome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
due
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
EMIR'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EMIR'S PALACE.
engines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
fifteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
heap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
interior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
Marhala
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
mosque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
murderous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
odor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
Orient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
PALACE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE EMIR'S PALACE.
palm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
pestilential
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
planted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
Prince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
ramparts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
ruins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
Saracen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
siege
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
sinuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
surmounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
Taranto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since about fifteen days, and after a murderous siege, the city of Marhala had fallen into the power of the army of the Crusaders, commanded by Bohemond, Prince of Taranto.
terraces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE EMIR'S PALACE.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
torn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
uniformity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there the dome of a mosque or the top of a palm tree, planted in the middle of an interior court-yard, broke the uniformity of the straight lines formed by the terraces, that surmounted all the houses.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The ramparts of the city, half torn down by the engines of war, presented at several places only a heap of ruins, from which a pestilential odor escaped, due to the decomposition of the Saracen bodies that were buried under the debris of the walls.
whitewashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The city of Marhala, like all others in the Orient, was crossed by narrow and sinuous streets, bordered with whitewashed houses, bearing narrow windows.