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 Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
AfternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
bespoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
bigger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
BIRTH-MARK
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIRTH-MARK.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
earth's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
entertaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
estimable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
faculty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
fearfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
haze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
heavens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
hushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
illumined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
lifeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
lightning's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
low-sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
Major
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
McDowell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
mounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
pall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
rimming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
royally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
solicitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
Southerners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like most Southerners, Major McDowell had the happy faculty of entertaining his guests royally.
swelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIRTH-MARK.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Afternoon brought a rimming haze; the wind had hushed, and the thick, lifeless air bespoke rain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
wrapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
Yorker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The New Yorker was there for the day, at the kind solicitation of the Major and his most estimable wife.
zenith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cloud no bigger than a man’s hand had gathered at low-sky; then mounted, swelling, to the zenith, and wrapped the heavens in a pall and covered the earth’s face with darkness that was fearfully illumined by the lightning’s glare.
