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 Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
appetites
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
approach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
chimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
Christmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
contest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
dishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
dividednounUS /ˈdivided/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
everywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
Five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
governess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
greatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
greeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
heralded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
hurrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
interest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
joyfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
merry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
mid-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
pastor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
pastor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
ranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
reflective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
rosy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
severity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
Six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
snow-ball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
unusually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The pastor, a man already past middle age, with a kind, gentle face, seemed to-day unusually grave and reflective.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Six months had passed, the winter had come in all its severity, and the approach of Christmas was heralded by a heavy fall of snow.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The mid-day bells chimed from the village church tower, a sound welcome everywhere, and joyfully greeted in the pastor's house as the crowd of merry children came hurrying from the garden, (where they had been engaged in a hot snow-ball contest), with greatly increased appetites.
youngest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He divided his attention between the children and their governess, who sat opposite to him, the two youngest children on either side.
zeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Five fresh little faces, rosy with the cold, ranged themselves round the dinner table, and began to attack with great interest and zeal the dishes set before them.
