Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
affluence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
AMONGprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
Ashwater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
bank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
become
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From this reading The muddy streets had become paved with cobblestone.
becoming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
Bluffport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
brick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
churches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
cobblestone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The muddy streets had become paved with cobblestone.
community
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
distinctly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
dry-goods
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
encouragingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
flagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
Godless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
happening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
hardware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
improvement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
leading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
muddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The muddy streets had become paved with cobblestone.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
nearest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
neighbouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
paved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The muddy streets had become paved with cobblestone.
permanent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
plain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
precisely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
radiated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
spires
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
STARS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
stores
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The muddy streets had become paved with cobblestone.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
thereon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new brick bank and the hardware store and two dry-goods stores radiated affluence.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
walks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old board side walks had given way to flagging.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “A SECRET AMONG THE STARS” While the general appearance of improvement and progress was becoming distinctly visible and encouragingly permanent on the leading business street of Ashwater, precisely the same thing was happening in its nearest neighbouring village, Bluffport.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The muddy streets had become paved with cobblestone.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A fine, big high school stood near the centre of the town and the spires of three churches lifted their white fingers toward the sky as if to write thereon in letters large and plain: “This is not a Godless community.”
