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 strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
animals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
base
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.
beings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
colonists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
crouching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
dogs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
extent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
furred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
greatest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
ice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
luckless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
measuring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
perish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
rupture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
shed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
spared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
swallowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
twenty-one
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.