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 Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
accentuate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
alert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
apprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
branches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
clumps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
ease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
environment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
footfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
forming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
greater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
grotesque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
holster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
instructed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
intently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
intercepting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
knowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
laurel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
leaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
log
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
loosened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
menacing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
moonlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
ocean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
overhead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
plash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
pools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
posted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
revolver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
sergeants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
shapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
shout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
significance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
slender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
sword-belt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For greater ease he loosened his sword-belt and taking his heavy revolver from his holster laid it on the log beside him.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
trickle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
uncanny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
unfamiliar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
vigil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But these leaks were few and served only to accentuate the blackness of his environment, which his imagination found it easy to people with all manner of unfamiliar shapes, menacing, uncanny, or merely grotesque.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From the vast, invisible ocean of moonlight overhead fell, here and there, a slender, broken stream that seemed to plash against the intercepting branches and trickle to earth, forming small white pools among the clumps of laurel.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Having posted his men, instructed his sergeants and retired to his station, he seated himself on a log, and with senses all alert began his vigil.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very comfortable, though he hardly gave the fact a thought, so intently did he listen for any sound from the front which might have a menacing significance—a shout, a shot, or the footfall of one of his sergeants coming to apprise him of something worth knowing.
