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 Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
absorbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
all-conquering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
Black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
boughs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
burnt-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
cabin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
crest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
etching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
fading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
flashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
gaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
Heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
Hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
interstices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
kindled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
lose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
mountain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
murmured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
pines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
PROLOGUE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PROLOGUE.
protested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
Range
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
ranks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
serried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
showing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
slope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
sparks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
Spur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
stole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
swallowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
swaying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
Tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
tunnel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
upclimbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
upwards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was going down on the Black Spur Range.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The red light it had kindled there was still eating its way along the serried crest, showing through gaps in the ranks of pines, etching out the interstices of broken boughs, fading away and then flashing suddenly out again like sparks in burnt-up paper.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then the night wind swept down the whole mountain side, and began its usual struggle with the shadows upclimbing from the valley, only to lose itself in the end and be absorbed in the all-conquering darkness.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet for some time the pines on the long slope of Heavy Tree Hill murmured and protested with swaying arms; but as the shadows stole upwards, and cabin after cabin and tunnel after tunnel were swallowed up, a complete silence followed.
