Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
all
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From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
aloft
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From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
ALPS
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From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
any
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From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
audacitynounUS /ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i/
A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
become
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From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
black
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From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
brave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
clothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
creatures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
dazzles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
denied
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From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
drifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
emerald-bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
ermine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
flying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
forbidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
forests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
fringe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
grandly
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From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
icy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
jet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
keenness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
majesty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
meadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
outline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
over-dresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
piercingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
pitiless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
pretence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
robes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
savage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
scarves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
seasons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
self-revealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
shining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
silvery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
skirts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
snows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
softer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
solemn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
tempest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, at least, clothed so simply in their robes of jet and ermine, they stand in something of their old true majesty, solemn, forbidding, terrible.
unconquerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Summer, as it were, over-dresses them, with its skirts of emerald-bright meadows and fringe of purple forests, and all its flying scarves of painted air and mist.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The black and white become them best; and they know it: the savage, iron black that seems pitiless, and that shining, silvery white that dazzles so piercingly.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They are really not summer things at all, but creatures of the winter--the short, brilliant day of icy keenness, and the long night of tempest, wind, and drifting snows.
WINTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
XXVIII
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading XXVIII THE WINTER ALPS With an audacity of outline denied to them in the softer seasons, the Alps rear themselves aloft in Winter more grandly self-revealed than at any other time--still with their brave and ancient pretence of being unconquerable.
