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 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
banked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
bawled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
bayonet
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From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
bullets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
Commanders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
Company
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From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
crack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
delayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reward was not long delayed.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
dragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
ear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
fan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
files
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
firers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
Five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
helmets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
helplessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
High
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
hoarse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
impenetrable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
kick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
leapingnounUS /ˈleaping/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The reward was not long delayed.
Martini
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
mechanically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
neighbour's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The reward was not long delayed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
plunged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
rapidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
reward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reward was not long delayed.
rifle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
sake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading 'High and to the left!' bawled a Captain till he was hoarse.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the crack of his neighbour's rifle at his ear led him to fire as rapidly as he could--again for the sake of the comfort of the noise.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Company Commanders peered helplessly through the smoke, the more nervous mechanically trying to fan it away with their helmets.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
volleys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The reward was not long delayed.
wearied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five volleys plunged the files in banked smoke impenetrable to the eye, and the bullets began to take ground twenty or thirty yards in front of the firers, as the weight of the bayonet dragged down and to the right arms wearied with holding the kick of the leaping Martini.
