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 CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
BLACKBIRD
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From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
Blackbirder
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From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
blot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
brig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
Civilisation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
CLIPPING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
condemnation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
Dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
dismantled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
elsewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And as it was here, so it was elsewhere.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
excepting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
feasting-places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
foul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
goes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And as it was here, so it was elsewhere.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
Islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And as it was here, so it was elsewhere.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
lagoon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
proceed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
quit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
represented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
rid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And as it was here, so it was elsewhere.
swell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
terrors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Civilisation, as represented by the dismantled brig, was as foul a thing as any the Dark Islands could show--not excepting even the terrors of the feasting-places.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading CLIPPING A BLACKBIRD Before we proceed to other matters, let us get rid of the _Blackbirder_.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading She lay like a black blot on the smooth swell of the lagoon, and till we are quit of her the place will not feel clean.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what the dark men did they did in their darkness, and what the yellow men did they did in their light, and condemnation goes with knowledge.
