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The Wind People
The Wind People

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Wind People is here in full — 352 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wind People
Context Illustration Reading 1/70 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.
But in the end it presented its own unique problem.
Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.
Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.
The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Wind People

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The Wind People is here in full — 352 sentences across 71 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/70 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.
Line 2
But in the end it presented its own unique problem.
/bʌt ɪn ðə end ɪt priˈzentɪd ɪts oʊn juːˈniːk ˈprɑːbləm/
Line 3
Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.
Line 4
Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.
Line 5
The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

abed adverb US /əˈbed/

in bed

From this reading “Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.”

idyllic adjective US /aɪˈdɪlɪk/

excellent and delightful in all respects

From this reading “_Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.”

layover noun US /ˈleɪoʊvər/

a brief stay in the course of a journey

From this reading “_Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.”

planks noun US /plæŋks/

plural of “plank” — a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes

From this reading “The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.”

prematurely adverb US /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊrli/

(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation

From this reading “Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.”

Robin's noun US /ˈrɑːbənz/

possessive form of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading “_Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.”

Specifically adverb US /spəˈsɪfɪkli/

in distinction from others

From this reading “Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.”

windy adjective US /ˈwɪndi/

abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes

From this reading “_Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

at the bottom preposition + article + noun counted as “at … bottom”

In this reading “The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.”

wide valley adjective + noun

In this reading “The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.”

looked out verb + adjective counted as “look out”

be vigilant, be on the lookout or be careful

In this reading “The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.”

All words in this reading · 100

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

abedadverbUS /əˈbed/

in bed

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

basenounUS /beɪs/

installation from which a military force initiates operations

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/

brought into existence

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

calmverbUS /kɑːm/

make calm or still

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

clearingnounUS /ˈklɪrɪŋ/

a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

crewnounUS /kruː/

the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

curvenounUS /kɜːrv/

the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

deep-flowing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

Dr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

eightadjectiveUS /eɪt/

being one more than seven

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

elementsnounUS /ˈeləmənts/

violent or severe weather (viewed as caused by the action of the four elements)

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

EvenounUS /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

fuelverbUS /ˈfjuːəl/

provide with a combustible substance that provides energy

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

HelennounUS /ˈhelən/

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

huntingnounUS /ˈhʌntɪŋ/

the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

idyllicadjectiveUS /aɪˈdɪlɪk/

excellent and delightful in all respects

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

InhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhæbətəd/

having inhabitants; lived in

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

laboratorynounUS /ˈlæbrətɔːri/

a workplace for the conduct of scientific research

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

layovernounUS /ˈleɪoʊvər/

a brief stay in the course of a journey

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

malenounUS /meɪl/

an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

Merrihew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

monthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

MurraynounUS /ˈmɜːri/

British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

planetnounUS /ˈplænət/

(astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

planksnounUS /plæŋks/

plural of “plank” — a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

prematurelyadverbUS /ˌpriːməˈtʃʊrli/

(of childbirth) before the end of the normal period of gestation

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

presentedverbUS /priˈzentɪd/

past form of “present” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

problemnounUS /ˈprɑːbləm/

a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

RobinnounUS /ˈrɑːbən/

small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

Robin'snounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/

possessive form of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

roughlyadverbUS /ˈrʌfli/

(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

shelternounUS /ˈʃeltər/

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading Merrihew found her lying abed in the laboratory shelter, pale and calm, with the child beside her.

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

SpecificallyadverbUS /spəˈsɪfɪkli/

in distinction from others

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

Starholm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

Starholm's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

uniqueadjectiveUS /juːˈniːk/

radically distinctive and without equal

From this reading But in the end it presented its own unique problem.

unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/

not known

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

valleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

whisperingnounUS /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/

a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading The little shelter, constructed roughly of green planks, looked out on the clearing which the _Starholm_ had used as a base of operations during the layover; a beautiful place at the bottom of a wide valley, in the curve of a broad, deep-flowing river.

windsnounUS /wɪndz/

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

windyadjectiveUS /ˈwɪndi/

abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Specifically, it presented Captain Merrihew with the problem of Robin, male, father unknown, who had been born the day before, and a month prematurely, to Dr. Helen Murray.

WorldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/

not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth

From this reading _Inhabited only by whispering winds, Robin's World was a paradise for the wrong two people--Eve and her son...._ It had been a long layover for the _Starholm's_ crew, hunting heavy elements for fuel--eight months, on an idyllic green paradise of a planet; a soft, windy, whispering world, inhabited only by trees and winds.

Chapter 1 of The Wind People by Marion Zimmer Bradley holds 352 sentences, grouped into 71 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The Wind People contain?

Chapter 1 holds 352 sentences of The Wind People, unabridged, divided into 71 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Wind People by Marion Zimmer Bradley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 352 sentences, grouped into 71 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The Wind People?

Work through the 71 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 71 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Wind People

Common questions about reading The Wind People by Marion Zimmer Bradley on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wind People?

Yes. All 352 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #60640 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wind People is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #60640, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Wind People take to read?

About 29 minutes of reading across 71 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wind People section by section

How to work through The Wind People section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 1 chapters of The Wind People to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Wind People

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Wind People, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Inhabited
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wind People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Whispering
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wind People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Winds
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wind People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Robin's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wind People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.