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 "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
barrels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
boulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
crushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
dwarfnounUS /dwɔːrf/
in traditional stories, a small humanlike being with magical qualities
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
Experiments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
extended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
fingernail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
hurricane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Sirian put the so-called animal in the palm of his hand.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
Micromegas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
mistaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/
from a ship into the water
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
palm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sirian put the so-called animal in the palm of his hand.
passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sirian put the so-called animal in the palm of his hand.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
reasonings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
sailors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
Saturn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
scurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
seized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
Sirian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sirian put the so-called animal in the palm of his hand.
skillfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
so-called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Sirian put the so-called animal in the palm of his hand.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Here is a very different animal from the first," said the dwarf from Saturn.
vessel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
voyagers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Experiments and reasonings of the two voyagers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The passengers and the crew, who believed themselves to have been lifted up by a hurricane, and who thought they were on some sort of boulder, scurried around; the sailors took the barrels of wine, threw them overboard onto Micromegas hand, and followed after.
withdrew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Micromegas slowly reached his hand towards the place where the object had appeared, extended two fingers, and withdrew them for fear of being mistaken, then opened and closed them, and skillfully seized the vessel that carried these fellows, putting it on his fingernail without pressing it too hard for fear of crushing it.
