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 IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
ahead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
appropriate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
BeyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
blink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
blueness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
bows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
bridge-rails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
climbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
creeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
darkening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
DISTRESSnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/
extreme sadness or suffering
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
drowsy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
dusky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
east
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
engines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
gleamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
gurgle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
Inlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
Jimmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
pines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
Shasta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
steamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
thumping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
tier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seemed to Jimmy, in one sense, appropriate that it should be so.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beyond that, in turn, a faint blink of snow still gleamed against the dusky blueness of the east.
twinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading IN DISTRESS The clear night was falling when Jimmy leaned on the bridge-rails as the _Shasta_ steamed out of the Inlet beneath a black wall of pines.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All this was familiar, but he was leaving it behind, and ahead there lay an empty waste of darkening water, into which the _Shasta_ pushed her way with thumping engines and a drowsy gurgle at the bows.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Over her port quarter the pale lights of the climbing city twinkled tier on tier, with dim forest rolling away behind them into the creeping mist.
