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The Desired Woman
The Desired Woman

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Desired Woman
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.
Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.
It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.
He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.
He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Desired Woman

Chapter X

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.
Line 2
Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.
Line 3
It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.
Line 4
He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.
Line 5
He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.”

Bearings plural noun US /ˈberɪŋz/

directions used to locate a place, especially at sea

From this reading “It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

Stand noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

bearingsplural nounUS /ˈberɪŋz/

directions used to locate a place, especially at sea

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

bushes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

climb

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

cloud

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

cloudy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

creep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

cut

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

days

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

dense

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

direct

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

direction

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

discovered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

doing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

Dolly's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

Drake's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

due

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

essayed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

fence

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

finally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

fishing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

gone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

hours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

intervening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

later

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

led

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

lost

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

mistake

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

moment

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

moon

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

moon's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

Mostyn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

nearing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

other

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

path

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

river

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

rose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

saw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

several

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

shorten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

shrubbery

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

side

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

spent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

stand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

stealthily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

sundown

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

ThinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

vague

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

veiled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

walking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

wandered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

watching

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

way

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was a mistake, for he had gone only a short way when he discovered that he had lost his bearings.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading One cloudy night a few days later Mostyn was walking home from the river where he had spent the day fishing.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He wandered here and there for several hours, and it was only when the moon, which had been under a cloud since sundown, came out, that he finally found a path which led him in the right direction.

window

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He was nearing the house when in the vague light, due to the moon's being veiled again, he saw a man stealthily climb over the fence, stand as if watching the house for a moment, and then creep through the rose bushes and other shrubbery to the side of the house beneath the window of Dolly's room.

wood

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Thinking that he might shorten the way by so doing, he essayed a direct cut through the dense wood intervening between the river and Drake's.