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 when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading With a little shiver of dread I looked around.
ascended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
BREAKING
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From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
building
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From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
candles
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From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
cathedral
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From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
caught
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From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
close
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From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
congregation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
delicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
dimly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
downwards
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From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
dread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a little shiver of dread I looked around.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
enveloped
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From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
evensong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
face
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From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had half risen from her seat, and was leaning over the front of the pew.
fruits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
huge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had half risen from her seat, and was leaning over the front of the pew.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a little shiver of dread I looked around.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She had half risen from her seat, and was leaning over the front of the pew.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
pew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had half risen from her seat, and was leaning over the front of the pew.
pews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
pulpit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had half risen from her seat, and was leaning over the front of the pew.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
semi-circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
shiver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a little shiver of dread I looked around.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
smothered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
STORM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
tasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
triumph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BREAKING OF THE STORM It was at evensong in the great cathedral that she tasted the first fruits of her triumph.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the earlier portion of the service the shadows had half enveloped the huge body of the building, and the white faces of the congregation had been only dimly visible to us from where we sat in one of the high side pews.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But when my father ascended the steps into the pulpit, and stood for a minute looking downwards with the light from a little semi-circle of candles thrown upon his pale, delicate face, I caught the sound of a sharp, smothered cry from a seat close to ours.
