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 They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
Biarritz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
birds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
caprice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
Carcassonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
Charing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
Choisy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
châteaunounUS /ʃæˈtoʊ/
A large French country house or castle, often surrounded by expansive estates and private galleries.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
Continent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
Cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
daybreak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
departed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
dictated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
Dijon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
Early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
employer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
farms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
FirstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
gaudy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
highways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
intricacies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
lime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
low-hanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
Madrid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
Masham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
Mellun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
mists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
motors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
Port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
Pyrenees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
RISKS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
Riviera
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
roaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
Sens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
smothered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
sped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
staring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
sternly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
TAKING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
Toulouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
traffic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
viaprepositionUS /ˈvaɪə/
by way of; passing through
From this reading From Dijon (the Charing Cross of motors) they sped across to Biarritz, over the Pyrenees to Madrid, then back to the Riviera, _via_ Carcassonne and Toulouse.
villa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First they went to Paris, then, leaving behind them the intricacies of the traffic, departed from that gay city by the Port de Choisy for Mellun, Sens, and Dijon.
white-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
wing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Masham’s custom to start at daybreak; the car was on the wing as soon as the birds.
woods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They swept along the great straight highways, by quiet sleeping farms, through low-hanging mists, and now and then past an old white-faced château, staring sternly from amidst its woods--or again, a gaudy red villa smothered in lime trees.
Wynyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TAKING RISKS Early in January Wynyard found himself on the Continent, roaming hither and thither as dictated by the caprice of his employer.
