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 “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
awake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven’t closed my eyes--not for one moment.”
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
contemplated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
curve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
deliberate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
departing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
describing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “I did not sleep,” said the sans-culotte.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I haven’t closed my eyes--not for one moment.”
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven’t closed my eyes--not for one moment.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I did not sleep,” said the sans-culotte.
image
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
jostling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
letting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
luminous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
meantimenounUS /ˈmiːntaɪm/
the period of time while something else is happening
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I haven’t closed my eyes--not for one moment.”
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I haven’t closed my eyes--not for one moment.”
nap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I did not sleep,” said the sans-culotte.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading “I haven’t closed my eyes--not for one moment.”
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
Peyrol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
rearguard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
roam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I did not sleep,” said the sans-culotte.
Salins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
sans-culotte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I did not sleep,” said the sans-culotte.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I did not sleep,” said the sans-culotte.
sleepy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
sparkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
suggested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Had a little nap in the open?” asked Peyrol, letting his eyes roam through the luminous space under the departing rearguard of the clouds jostling each other up there.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His mental eye contemplated her black image against the white beach of the Salins describing a sparkling curve under the moon; and meantime he went on slowly, “for it could not have been noise that kept you awake.”
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “That must be because you weren’t sleepy,” suggested the deliberate Peyrol, whose thoughts were far away with the English ship.
