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Chapter I
The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth. The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken. They were both young and handsome. Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard. Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading “The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “They were both young and handsome.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.”
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.”
in the direction of
From this reading “The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They were both young and handsome.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were both young and handsome.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Harry Johnston, an American, was as dark and sallow as a Spaniard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were both young and handsome.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
in the direction of
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two inmates of the car were insensible; their faces were bloodless, their cheeks sunken.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The balloon seemed scarcely to move, though it was slowly sinking toward the ocean of white clouds which hung between it and the earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charles Thorndyke, an English gentleman, had yellow hair and mustache, blue eyes and a fine intellectual face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both young and handsome.
