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 There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
animal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
Archie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
bathing-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
boarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
broadening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
bulrushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
campion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
content
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
crisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
curls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
debouched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
diving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
drying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
ecstasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
enclosed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
estuary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
fringed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
half-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
loosestrife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
low-lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
margin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
meadow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
meadow-sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
mingled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
pink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
ragged-robin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
shallow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
smell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
starred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
supported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
swimming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
turf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
undefinable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
weeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a good stretch of deep water free from weeds, and for the last half-hour he had been swimming and diving in it.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Archie was lying on the turf in front of the enclosed bathing-place where the stream debouched into the lake.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A strip of low-lying meadow land behind was pink with campion and ragged-robin and starred with meadow-sweet, the scent of which mingled with the undefinable cool smell of running water.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now, with hair drying back into its crisp curls under the hot sun, he lay on the short warm turf, with his chin supported on his hands, in an ecstasy of animal content.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At this edge of the water the bank was made firm and solid with wooden boarding that went down into deep water, but across the estuary of the stream, broadening out into the lake, the shallow margin was fringed with bulrushes and loosestrife.
