Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
affront
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From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
alike
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From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
all
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
angry
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From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
audaciously
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
avalanche
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
blossoms
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
breath
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
brilliant
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
buried
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
burning
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
butterflies
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
capricious
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
CHAPTER
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From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
children
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
choked
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
clearings
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From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
cloudless
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From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
cracked
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
dared
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From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
destroyed
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From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
down
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From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
drooping
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
fearless
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
fell
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From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
fire
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From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
flowers
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
fluttered
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
frail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
glided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
glorious
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From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
heat
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From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
heaven
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From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
helpless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
hide
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From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
hovered
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From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
lightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
motion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
ONEpronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
oppression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
rays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
resolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
revolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
rush
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From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
settlement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
StrengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
swarms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No living thing dared to affront the serenity of this cloudless sky, dared to revolt against the oppression of this glorious and cruel sunshine.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
tyrants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The land lay silent, still, and brilliant under the avalanche of burning rays that had destroyed all sound and all motion, had buried all shadows, had choked every breath.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading CHAPTER ONE The light and heat fell upon the settlement, the clearings, and the river as if flung down by an angry hand.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Strength and resolution, body and mind alike were helpless, and tried to hide before the rush of the fire from heaven.
withering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only the frail butterflies, the fearless children of the sun, the capricious tyrants of the flowers, fluttered audaciously in the open, and their minute shadows hovered in swarms over the drooping blossoms, ran lightly on the withering grass, or glided on the dry and cracked earth.
