Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
Annette
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From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
circled
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From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
cries
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From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
curled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
dawn
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From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
dew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dew was on everything.
dressed
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From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
early
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From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
ecstatic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
emotion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The dew was on everything.
feeble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
fit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
flown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
meadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
noiselessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The dew was on everything.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
piercing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
qualities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
safety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
seasons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
slanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
SMITH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
sped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
swallows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
SYDNEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
trust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She dressed, and went noiselessly into the garden, and then wandered into the long meadows that stretched in front of the house.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "There are seasons in human affairs when qualities, fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless, when men must trust to emotion for that safety which reason at such times can never give."--SYDNEY SMITH.
windless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The low slanting sunshine was piercing the mist which moved slowly along the ground, and curled up into the windless air like smoke.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Annette had been waked early by two young swallows which had flown into her room, and had circled swiftly round it with sharp, ecstatic cries, and then had sped out again into the dawn.
