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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
any
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From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/
any person at all
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
Astran
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
Astranians
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From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
bright
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
brush
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From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
buildings
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
came
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
City
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
cold
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
color
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
creep
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
crimson
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
Crystal
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
direction
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From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
dropped
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
dusk
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
eminences
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
energy
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From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
equipment
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From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
flashed
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
floor
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
gems
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
glowingnounUS /ˈglowing/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
improving
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
indicate
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
kind
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From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
Lake
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
Melvar
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From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
mountain
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From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
much
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From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
off
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From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
often
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
paving
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
Presently
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
public
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From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
purple
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
rim
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From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
scrub
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From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.
sight
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From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
Silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
thicken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Astran, the Crystal City The sun dropped beneath the rim, and the purple dusk began to thicken and to creep over the valley floor.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I took up my precious equipment, and Melvar and I walked off through the red brush in the direction of the mountain.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
well-worn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently we came to a well-worn path through the crimson scrub, but I saw nothing to indicate that anyone had thought of paving or improving it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The vast strange buildings of the city of gems were still glowing with soft color, and the cold, bright surface of the Silver Lake flashed often into sight beyond the rolling eminences.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the Astranians did not seem to have much energy for any kind of public work.