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 PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
able
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
away
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
Base
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
beds
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From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
BELLS
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
Black
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
carts
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From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
ceased
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From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
certain
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
comfortable
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From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
day
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From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
dismal
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From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
dressings
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From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
enough
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From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
envelope
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From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
fatigue
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From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
few
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
Field
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
find
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From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
flood
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From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
followed
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From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
fortnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
fortunate
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From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
France
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
gone
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
handwriting
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From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
happening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
Hospital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
instant
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From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
letters
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From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
lines
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From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
longer
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From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
mail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
nap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
neighbours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
nurses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
observant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
patients
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
PEALnounUS /piːl/
a loud ringing burst of sound
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
rainy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
Robert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
sense
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From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
sombre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
soothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
supplies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
surgeons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
surgical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
unopened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
ward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He kept this third letter unopened till the morning dressings were over, the carts of surgical supplies had ceased to move through the ward, and the surgeons and nurses had left behind them patients soothed and made comfortable and ready for the late morning nap which followed naturally upon the pain and fatigue of the dressings.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Then, when his neighbours in the beds on either side were no longer observant, Black drew out the single sheet, feeling an instant sense of disappointment that the lines were so few.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But to find this particular handwriting upon the third envelope was enough to flood the ward with light--for him, though to some others, near him, who had had no letters, it remained a sombre place, as before.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was so fortunate as to have two other letters in this mail, a happening which of itself would have made the rainy day much less dismal.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PEAL OF BELLS By the time that a certain note of a few lines, written outside a Field Hospital window in France, had reached a certain Base Hospital, many miles away, Robert Black was able to open his own mail, for a fortnight had gone by.
