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 FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
appalling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
awed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the best thing that could have happened.
blindness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
calamity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
catastrophe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
child's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
closer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was the best thing that could have happened.
Courtlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
FRIENDS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the best thing that could have happened.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was the best thing that could have happened.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
huddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
icy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
lacking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
nip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
outrage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
plight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
protecting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
sending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
shocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
shudder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The outrage on the child stood out horrible in the light of the mother's death: the death of the mother found an appalling explanation in the child's plight.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the best thing that could have happened.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
unhappy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
unwitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
vesture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was not lacking the last high touch of tragedy; the catastrophe which shocked and awed was welcome too.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading FRIENDS The calamity at the Courtlands' struck on all their acquaintance like a nip of icy wind, sending a shudder through them, making them, as it were, huddle closer about them the protecting vesture of any hope or any happiness that they had.
witting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whether the death were by a witting or an unwitting act seemed a small matter; darkness and blindness had fallen on the unhappy woman before the last hours, and somehow in the darkness she had passed away.
