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 The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
architect
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From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
bold
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From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
bustling
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From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
buttresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
Castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
changes
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From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
Church
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From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
days
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From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
design
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
explore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
fair-way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
former
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From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
Giles's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
gives
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From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
High
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
Highland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
Holyrood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
knocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
Krames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
lands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
magistratesplural nounUS /ˈmædʒɪstreɪts/
civil officers who administer local law
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
manhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
misguided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
neighbourhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
notably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
outlook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
overbuilding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
overbuilt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
Picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
piper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
pitifully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
porthole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
precincts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
pretentious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
quaint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
romantic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
rooted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
shorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
silly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
space
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
spire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
subterraneanadjectiveUS /ˌsʌb.təˈreɪ.ni.ən/
Existing, occurring, or done under the earth's surface.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
sunless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
TimenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
unrecognisable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
volunteered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As St. Giles’s must have had in former days a rich and quaint appearance now forgotten, so the neighbourhood was bustling, sunless, and romantic.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
windings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Picture: The Spire of St. Giles’s] There is a silly story of a subterranean passage between the Castle and Holyrood, and a bold Highland piper who volunteered to explore its windings.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was here that the town was most overbuilt; but the overbuilding has been all rooted out, and not only a free fair-way left along the High Street with an open space on either side of the church, but a great porthole, knocked in the main line of the _lands_, gives an outlook to the north and the New Town.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
wrought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Time has wrought its changes most notably around the precincts of St. Giles’s Church.
zealous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The church itself, if it were not for the spire, would be unrecognisable; the _Krames_ are all gone, not a shop is left to shelter in its buttresses; and zealous magistrates and a misguided architect have shorn the design of manhood, and left it poor, naked, and pitifully pretentious.
