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 he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
alders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
bracken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
brook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
brows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
carrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
continuation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
dip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
dryish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
garden-path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
green-grassed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
log
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
plank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
pleat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
shadowy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
sights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
soil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
straining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
sunlit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
turf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had cut the rough turf and bracken, leaving the grey, dryish soil bare.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
Viking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked again, straining his keen blue eyes, that had a touch of the Viking in them, through the shadowy pine trees as through a doorway, at the green-grassed garden-path rising from the shadow of alders by the log bridge up to the sunlit flowers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was working on the edge of the common, beyond the small brook that ran in the dip at the bottom of the garden, carrying the garden path in continuation from the plank bridge on to the common.
worried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he was worried because he could not get the path straight, there was a pleat between his brows.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had set up his sticks, and taken the sights between the big pine trees, but for some reason everything seemed wrong.
