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Far from the Madding Crowd
Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter VIII · Melchester Moor—snow—a Meeting

Melchester Moor—snow—a Meeting, section 1: For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.
It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.
The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.
On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.
The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter VIII · Melchester Moor—snow—a Meeting

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.
Line 2
It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.
Line 3
The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.
Line 4
On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.
Line 5
The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Amid preposition US /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading “The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

Heath noun US /hiːθ/

open uncultivated land covered with low plants

From this reading “On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.”

Partly noun US /partly/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

ambition

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

anticipation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

any

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

becomes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

bordered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

brightest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

called

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

causing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

changes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

chief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

city

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

constituent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

darkness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

dreariness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

enterprise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

evening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

exercise

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

faith

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

feelings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

hand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

heathnounUS /hiːθ/

open uncultivated land covered with low plants

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

high

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

hope

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

hour

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

impressible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

incongruity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

kind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

land

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

later

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

love

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

meadow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

Melchester

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

misgiving

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

moor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

obtrusive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

opportunities

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

outskirts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

partly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

path

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

persons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

prompt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

prospect

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

public

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

reaching

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

regret

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

remote

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

river

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

rose

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From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

scene

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From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

scenery

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From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

seasons

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From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

sense

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From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

sinks

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From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

snowy

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From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

solicitousness

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From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

sorrow

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From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

spots

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From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

stir

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From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

surpass

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From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

tract

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From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

undulating

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From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

verge

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From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

wall

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From this reading The scene was a public path, bordered on the left hand by a river, behind which rose a high wall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading For dreariness, nothing could surpass a prospect in the outskirts of the city of Melchester at a later hour on this same snowy evening—if that may be called a prospect of which the chief constituent was darkness.

wide

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From this reading On the right was a tract of land, partly meadow and partly moor, reaching, at its remote verge, to a wide undulating heath.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It was a night when sorrow may come to the brightest without causing any great sense of incongruity: when, with impressible persons, love becomes solicitousness, hope sinks to misgiving, and faith to hope: when the exercise of memory does not stir feelings of regret at opportunities for ambition that have been passed by, and anticipation does not prompt to enterprise.

woodland

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From this reading The changes of the seasons are less obtrusive on spots of this kind than amid woodland scenery.