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 As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
admirably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
aeroplane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
balloon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
contracted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
craftnounUS /kræft/
a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
customary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
downward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
extraordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
extremely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
glider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
horizontal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
independent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
invisibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
levitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
machinery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
navigable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
nine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
passages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lay in my customary glider position, horizontal and face downward, and the invisibility of all the machinery gave an extraordinary effect of independent levitation.
propeller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
Roberts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
shed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
southwester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
successive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
swish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had run out of the shed admirably at nine or ten miles an hour or more, and although there was a gentle southwester blowing, it had gone up and turned and faced it as well as any craft of the sort I have ever seen.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
unqualified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
Up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
vans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Only by looking up, as it were, and turning my head back could I see the flat aeroplane bottom of the balloon and the rapid successive passages, swish, swish, swish of the vans of the propeller.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up to that point the whole thing had been going on extremely well.
α
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As a navigable balloon and before I contracted it, the Lord Roberts α was an unqualified success.
