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 It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
all
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From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
always
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From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
arms
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From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
attempt
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From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
away
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From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
crimson
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From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
day
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From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
depressing
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From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
enforce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
feet
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From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
fence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
fifty
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From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
folded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
heavens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
highway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈlɛdən/
heavy, dull, or grey in appearance or movement
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
November
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
Now
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From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
pathetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
pierce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
pitiless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
privacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
seclusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
sensitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
separate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
souls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
stealing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
Stephen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
stern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
sunset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
tint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is something always pathetic in the attempt to enforce the idea of seclusion and privacy, by building a fence around houses only ten or twelve feet away from the public road, and only forty or fifty feet from each other.
unyielding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was late in the afternoon of a November day.
west
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now, at sunset, a dull red tint was slowly stealing over the west; but the gray cloud was too thick for the sun to pierce, and the struggle of the crimson color with the unyielding sky only made the heavens look more stern and pitiless than before.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The sky had worn all day that pale leaden gray color, which is depressing even to the least sensitive of souls.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stephen White stood with his arms folded, leaning on the gate which shut off, but seemed in no wise to separate, the front yard of the house in which he lived from the public highway.
