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 To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
advancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
BREACH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREACH REPASSED.
brightened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
charnel-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
comrade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
crouched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
dawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
daybreak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
defend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
Desolate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
despairing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
dreary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
eastern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
famine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
Famished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
fix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
fortifications
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
hunger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
languid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
maddened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
misty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
mournfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
objects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/
to get something, especially through effort
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
pace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
pangs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
rampart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
REPASSED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREACH REPASSED.
rifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
sentinel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
Slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
soldier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
solitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
starving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
suffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
surrounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BREACH REPASSED.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slowly and mournfully the sentinel at the rifted wall raised his eyes towards the eastern clouds as they brightened before the advancing dawn.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
wastenounUS /weɪst/
an empty, uncultivated area of land
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To look back on the city behind him was to look back on the dreary charnel-house of famine and death; to look down on the waste ground without the walls was to look down on the dead body of the comrade of his watch, who, maddened by the pangs of hunger which he had suffered during the night, had cast himself from the rampart to meet a welcome death on the earth beneath.
yearning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Famished and despairing, the sentinel crouched on the fortifications which he had now neither strength to pace nor care to defend, yearning for the food that he had no hope to obtain, as he watched the grey daybreak from his solitary post.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Desolate as was the appearance of the dull, misty daybreak, it was yet the most welcome of all the objects surrounding the starving soldier on which he could fix his languid gaze.
