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 A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
backyard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
chambers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
clothes-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
corners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
crisis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
domestic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
drama
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
dwarfish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
eastward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
embowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
everywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a sudden violent burst of sound or force
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
flagon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
forests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
frosty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
fugitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
hanged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
harassed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
holes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
inmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
intoxication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
intricate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
Island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
littering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
Many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
million
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
rare and worth a great deal
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
professor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
refreshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a million holes and corners it refreshed a man like a flagon, and astonished him like a blow.
roaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
shirts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
sick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
tore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
trailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
Treasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
trumpnounUS /trʌmp/
an excellent and dependable person who can be trusted
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
undramatic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
unreasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Many a harassed mother in a mean backyard had looked at five dwarfish shirts on the clothes-line as at some small, sick tragedy; it was as if she had hanged her five children.
wave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A wind sprang high in the west, like a wave of unreasonable happiness, and tore eastward across England, trailing with it the frosty scent of forests and the cold intoxication of the sea.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But everywhere it bore drama into undramatic lives, and carried the trump of crisis across the world.
wrapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the inmost chambers of intricate and embowered houses it woke like a domestic explosion, littering the floor with some professor’s papers till they seemed as precious as fugitive, or blowing out the candle by which a boy read “Treasure Island” and wrapping him in roaring dark.
