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Chapter I
Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet. Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_? Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal. Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face. "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?”
not one thing; not anything
From this reading “Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
above and across; more than
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laughing and sputtering, she jerked her head once over each round shoulder, parting her soaked hair and revealing her face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sarah emerged from the surface of the Great Canal as sleek and brown as a seal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Try that once again!" she flung at Joe.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four _Aarnian_ criminals--vicious and deadly--fled silently into the Martian night; and grimly the Patrol threw out an airtight dragnet.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing human could have escaped ... but what's human about an _Aarnian_?
