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 A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
annoyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Special Investigator Billy Neville was annoyed, and for more reasons than one.
any
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From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
Asteroid
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From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
Billy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Special Investigator Billy Neville was annoyed, and for more reasons than one.
capital
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From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
clean-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
Confederation
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From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
cue
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From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
curtains
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From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
diamond-mine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
disaster
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From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
diverted
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From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
drama
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
fantastic
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From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
figure
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From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
gooroo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
inter-world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
Investigator
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From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
jungles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
lone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
Mars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
Neville
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From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Special Investigator Billy Neville was annoyed, and for more reasons than one.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
Pallas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
plotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
presentation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
racket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Special Investigator Billy Neville was annoyed, and for more reasons than one.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
ring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
robbery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
Showboat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
shunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
Space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
Special
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Special Investigator Billy Neville was annoyed, and for more reasons than one.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
stamping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
swift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
tedious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
Venus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And between its presentation and inter-world disaster, waiting for his cue, stood only the lone figure of Investigator Neville.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A drama more fantastic than any the stage had ever produced was being plotted behind the curtains of the Showboat of Space.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
well-deserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And now, when he again thought he would be free for a while, he found himself shunted to little Pallas, capital of the Asteroid Confederation.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had just done a tedious year in the jungles of Venus stamping out the gooroo racket and then, on his way home to a well-deserved leave and rest, had been diverted to Mars for a swift clean-up of the diamond-mine robbery ring.
