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 But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
beautiful
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From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
bloodstained
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
curious
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From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
cut
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From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
darkened
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
deeply
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
designs
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From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
detail
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
detectives
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
doing
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From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
effect
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From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
fantastic
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
figure
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
flanked
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From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
floor
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
forget
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From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
garden
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From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
girded
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From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
house
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From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
inn
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
inquire
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
Inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
jangled
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From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
lawn
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From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
many
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
matters
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
middle
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From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
modest
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From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
nightmarenounUS /ˈnaɪt.mɛr/
A terrifying or distressing dream.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
old-world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
quarters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
restful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
round
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From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
Rows
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From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
soothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
sprawling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
stretch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
stroll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that deeply peaceful atmosphere one could forget, or remember only as some fantastic nightmare, that darkened study with the sprawling, bloodstained figure on the floor.
sundial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But before doing so I took a stroll in the curious old-world garden which flanked the house.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The three detectives had many matters of detail into which to inquire; so I returned alone to our modest quarters at the village inn.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Inside was a beautiful stretch of lawn with an old sundial in the middle, the whole effect so soothing and restful that it was welcome to my somewhat jangled nerves.
yew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rows of very ancient yew trees cut into strange designs girded it round.
