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 Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
alights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
antelope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
area
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
begin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
borders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
celebrate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
celestial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
compact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
comprises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
crescentic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
crotch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
defined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
expands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
exquisitely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
fifty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
flukes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
girth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
gradually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
junction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
largest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
lovely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
Other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
overlap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
palms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
plumage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
poetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
praises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
recede
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
Reckoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
root
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
shoaling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
sideways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
sized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
Sperm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
tapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
thickness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
trunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The compact round body of its root expands into two broad, firm, flat palms or flukes, gradually shoaling away to less than an inch in thickness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
vacancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
warbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope, and the lovely plumage of the bird that never alights; less celestial, I celebrate a tail.
Whale's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Reckoning the largest sized Sperm Whale’s tail to begin at that point of the trunk where it tapers to about the girth of a man, it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
wings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the crotch or junction, these flukes slightly overlap, then sideways recede from each other like wings, leaving a wide vacancy between.
