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Chapter I
Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth. He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself. With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people. Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns. Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.”
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.”
except for; apart from
From this reading “With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.”
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 Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
except for; apart from
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched them die, crushed and seared by the spreading blue flower, and he cursed himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looming at starboard, blacking out a section of space, the dark starside of the Moon.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Around them, space--implacable but generous, impalpable but tangible--shot through with a thousand far off suns.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Curt watched them, screaming as they fled before the shadow-things--the tortured humans of Earth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With all his knowledge and strength he could not save his people.
