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 He turned down a narrow street.
academynounUS /əˈkæd.ə.mi/
A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
bringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
carriages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
Cathedral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
chimes
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From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
Close
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From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
convoys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
dancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
down
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From this reading He turned down a narrow street.
dropping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
excitements
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From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
flags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
frocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
gravity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
groups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He turned down a narrow street.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
materials
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
mothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned down a narrow street.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
People
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
ringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
ruffle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
shops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
slow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
stately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
stir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
stopping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned down a narrow street.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He turned down a narrow street.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People were making their way across the Close to the different doors.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets had their gay flags, and carriages, and groups in the shops, and mothers bringing little convoys from the dancing academy, and stopping to look at materials for winter frocks,--but hardly a touch of these excitements had reached the Close.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Cathedral chimes were ringing, dropping down one after the other with a slow stately gravity.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It seemed as if nothing could ruffle its quiet air; as if, under the shadow of the old Cathedral, life and death itself would make no stir.
