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 It would be a fearful undertaking, but hesitation was impossible.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
anchor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
Arctic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
ardently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
arrested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
bitterest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
build
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
connected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
countries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
fatal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
fearful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be a fearful undertaking, but hesitation was impossible.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
hesitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be a fearful undertaking, but hesitation was impossible.
Hobson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
icebergs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be a fearful undertaking, but hesitation was impossible.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
isthmus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
Lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
Long's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
longed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
mainland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
march
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
separated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
Sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading situation.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
sledges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The winter, for which Lieutenant Hobson had so ardently longed, had come at last, and arrested the fatal march of the island to the north.
solidified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
stationary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
traversed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/
a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do
From this reading It would be a fearful undertaking, but hesitation was impossible.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading To use Sergeant Long’s expression, the island had “cast anchor,” and was as stationary as when the isthmus connected it with the mainland.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But six hundred miles now separated it from inhabited countries, six hundred miles which would have to be traversed in sledges across the solidified surface of the sea, amongst the icebergs which the cold would build up, in the bitterest months of the Arctic winter.
