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 Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
accident
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From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
Acres
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From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
All
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From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
barrier
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
brook
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From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
bursting
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From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
climbed
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From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
conscious
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
divides
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
dwelt
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
equator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
everywhere
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From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
eyes
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
face
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
gun
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From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
hedges
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From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
leaf
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From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
leapt
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From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
less
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
May-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
memorable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
narrow
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From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
Nature
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From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
propriety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
pulse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
rejoiced
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From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
rested
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
rhythm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
rippled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
rush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
sacrifice
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
separate
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From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
sparkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
Spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
stile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
sward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
Thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
thrushes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Thirty Acres which climbed the hill above them, the thrushes were singing their May-day song, and beside them the brook rippled and sparkled in the sunshine.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
universal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
unrebuked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The stile rose between them, but seeing that his hands rested on hers, and his eyes dwelt unrebuked on her conscious face, the barrier was but as the equator, which divides but does not separate; the sacrifice to propriety was less than it seemed.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Spring had come with a rush, the hedges were everywhere bursting into leaf.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were standing on the narrow strip of sward between the wood and the stream, which the gun accident had for ever made memorable to them.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All Nature rejoiced, and the pulse of youth leapt to the universal rhythm.
