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 The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
ABBOT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
aright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
arras
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
atop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
autumn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
blew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
buds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
castle's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
coverlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
dial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
fish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pierre was ready,—the sauce for the fish, the fish themselves were ready for the oven.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
Foulque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
FRIDAY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
gloomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
mistral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
oven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pierre was ready,—the sauce for the fish, the fish themselves were ready for the oven.
Pierre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pierre was ready,—the sauce for the fish, the fish themselves were ready for the oven.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
sauce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pierre was ready,—the sauce for the fish, the fish themselves were ready for the oven.
scan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Pierre was ready,—the sauce for the fish, the fish themselves were ready for the oven.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Pierre was ready,—the sauce for the fish, the fish themselves were ready for the oven.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He gloomed now from this narrow window and now from that in the black castle’s thick walls.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The hall was ready for the abbot, the arras hung, the floor strewn with leaves and autumn buds, the great chair placed aright, a rich coverlet spread upon the state bed.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The abbot was not expected before the dial showed twelve, but Foulque looked from here and looked from there, and kept a man atop of the tower to scan the road beyond the wood.
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT FRIDAY the mistral blew, and Foulque was always wretched in that wind.