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 Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
abyss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
Austen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
banks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
climbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
colors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
composed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/
extreme sadness or suffering
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
Down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
dreamnounUS /driːm/
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
dully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
farther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
Ladder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
Lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
MeanwhilenounUS /ˈmeanwhile/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
ominous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
ponies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
rim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
shores
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
Silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
unearthly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It was hard to realize that somewhere upon the red plain, or along the shores of the Silver Lake, or perhaps beneath the banks of mist beyond, Austen was--or had been--alone, and in distress.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
volcanic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Meanwhile the sun climbed over and lit the farther rim, which still was black or dully red, because of the dark colors of the volcanic rocks of which it is composed.
whistling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
wildly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene was so vast, so strange, so wildly beautiful and unearthly, that it seemed almost a dream, instead of an ominous reality.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Down the Silver Ladder For a long, long time I gazed into the abyss, lost in the wonder and the mystery of it.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wondered, too, from what part of this strange world had come the thing of the whistling sound and the red light, which had taken the ponies.
