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 But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
all
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
also
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From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
any
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
aspect
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
black
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
busy and excited activity
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
ceilings
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
children
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
Christian
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From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
circle
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
colour
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
combinations
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
contrasts
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
corners
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
corridors
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
deep
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From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
domestic
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
doubtless
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
Druids
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
eventide
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
fallen
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From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
fifty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
figures
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
flashes
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
gloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
glow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
Harefield's
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From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
hearths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HIS ITALIAN WIFE.
hospitalities
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
hundred
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
ins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
ITALIAN
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From this reading HIS ITALIAN WIFE.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
jinks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
kaleidoscope
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
known
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
LittlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
lived
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From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
log
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
mansion
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
many
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
miles
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
moor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
movement
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
narrow
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
oak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
oak-crowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
once
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From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
out
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
outs
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From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
panelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
passing
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From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
radius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
reappearance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
recurrent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
reeked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
shrill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by alcohol
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
stony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
summer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
varied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
victims
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
Water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
wealth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THAT deep shadow of gloom which had fallen upon Christian Harefield’s life seemed to have descended also upon the house he lived in.
white-robed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
WIFE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HIS ITALIAN WIFE.
winter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
Yafford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last fifty years the Water House had been known to all Little Yafford, and within a radius of twenty miles, as a grave and sober mansion, where high jinks of any kind were as little to be expected as a reappearance of white-robed, oak-crowned Druids in that stony circle on the moor which had once reeked with the blood of human victims.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house--with its low ceilings, narrow corridors, strange ins and outs, odd corners, and black oak panelling--had doubtless been more or less gloomy of aspect for the last two hundred years.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
yule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But an old world gloom like this contrasts pleasantly with the movement and bustle of glad domestic life--the flashes of sudden colour--the glow of many hearths--winter’s yule log and summer’s wealth of flowers--the fresh shrill voices of young children--the hospitalities of eventide, the passing in and out of many figures, varied yet recurrent as the combinations of a kaleidoscope.
