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 I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
anxiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
astray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
causes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
deer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
developments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
flew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
Four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
gracefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
Guinea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
hard-beat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
leapingnounUS /ˈleaping/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
musing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
reasonings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
shining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this was only for an instant.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon, having thrown my book aside, weary of causes, reasonings and developments of law, I sat on a rock near the spring, musing, wondering, when suddenly I sprang to my feet, with Guinea in my mind, with Guinea before me, I thought.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Four weeks passed and heavy were the days with anxiety, for I had received no word from Guinea.
worst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I thought of a hundred causes that must have kept her from writing, but, worst of all, I feared that she had written and that the letter had gone astray.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young deer came down the path, gracefully leaping, and my mind flew back to the time when I had first seen her running down that shining strip of hard-beat earth.
