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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
all
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From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
away
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
bank
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From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
bright
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
clouds
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From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
dawn
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From this reading It was the earliest dawn.
day
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
decked
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From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
dim
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From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
earliest
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From this reading It was the earliest dawn.
early
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
edge
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From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
edgings
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From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fading
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From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
faint
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From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fishermen
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fitfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fourthnounUS /fourth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
Hegira
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
languid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
Martair
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From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
misty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
peaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
pierced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
pink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
reckoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
starting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
stirring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
Tahiti
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning only showed itself along the lower edge of a bank of purple clouds pierced by the misty peaks of Tahiti.
Tamai
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
tropical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tropical day seemed too languid to rise.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was on the fourth day of the first month of the Hegira, or flight from Tamai (we now reckoned our time thus), that, rising bright and early, we were up and away out of the valley of Martair before the fishermen even were stirring.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sometimes, starting fitfully, it decked the clouds with faint edgings of pink and gray, which, fading away, left all dim again.