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 It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
away
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From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
Babylonia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
celestial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
City
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
Columbian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
confusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
constellations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
COURT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT IN THE COURT OF HONOR.
crowds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
duties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
earthly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
electric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
enter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
forever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
fulfilment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
grounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
Guards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
harmony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
HONOR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT IN THE COURT OF HONOR.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NIGHT IN THE COURT OF HONOR.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
Lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
lighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
midsummer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
NIGHT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NIGHT IN THE COURT OF HONOR.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NIGHT IN THE COURT OF HONOR.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
plains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
propheticadjectiveUS /prəˈfɛtɪk/
suggesting what will happen in the future
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
renewal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
Shinar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
splendorsplural nounUS /ˈsplendərz/
impressive and beautiful signs of wealth or importance
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NIGHT IN THE COURT OF HONOR.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
tongues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
Tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
visions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was a midsummer night in the Court of Honor; the crowds had vanished, and the air, the grounds, and the Lake were still.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The White City stood in the silence like Shinar Tower after the confusion, for if on the plains of Babylonia people began to speak many tongues, here the harmony of language found a prophetic expression again.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The world had not built here a tower to touch the sky, from which men might enter heaven; but the beauty that fancy places in heaven was here, and into it people came and went away, and read here the fulfilment of earthly and celestial visions.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Columbian Guards had retired from the weary duties of the day; the lights, one by one, had gone out; the constellations of electric splendors had passed away forever, for their renewal would be like the lighting of new stars.
