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 _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
abstractedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
Asia
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From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
begins
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From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
BeneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
bloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
botany
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From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
brief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
cameo-face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
Columbia
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From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
comfortably
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From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
declaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
disk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
diœcious
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From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
edge
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From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
entire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
fascinating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
female
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
floating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
floral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
flower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
ghostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
Gordon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
humdrum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
indication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
lectures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
love-life
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
mansion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
mating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
matted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
moonlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
moonlit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
muddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
palatial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
plant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
pool
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From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
Professor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
recount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
reflected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
ribbon-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
rises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
Seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
shifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
Spencer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
stare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
stem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
terrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
Tom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
tropical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
turgid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
unlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
vallisneria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
vernal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tom Spencer shifted his keen gray eyes to stare at the matted, ribbon-like leaves, floating on top of the water, which gave little indication of floral life below.
waters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A strange and curious little story, about the moonlight mating of flowers_ Seated comfortably on the broad terrace of Professor Gordon’s palatial mansion, Tom Spencer stared abstractedly at the red disk of the setting sun, reflected in the turgid waters of the pool in the garden beyond the edge of the terrace as he listened to his host recount the fascinating story of the love-life of the vallisneria.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
whimsical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
white-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cameo-face of the white-haired botany professor bore a whimsical expression as he declaimed, “Beneath the black surface of that muddy pool out there, the flowers of a score or so of this rare plant which I brought from tropical Asia, pass their entire humdrum life, except for one brief night of moonlit love—not unlike our human existence.”
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one night of each year, the night of the vernal full moon, the stem of each female flower begins to stretch, until its ghostly green and white bloom rises to the surface.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The old professor continued, “As you know from my lectures at Columbia, the vallisneria is a diœcious plant.
