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 When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
bracken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
clearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
cooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
dense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
enormous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
he'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
Jill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
Lockley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
monster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
observationnounUS /ˈobservation/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
pot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
punky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
roots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
screen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
shoots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
sorts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
spotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
stuff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
trunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
wood-rot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.