Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
avenues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
brothers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
calm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
childhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
CLOSED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
confused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was a girl with me in the lonely garden.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
gulf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
laughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
lonely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was a girl with me in the lonely garden.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
neglected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
pondered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
recollections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
schoolboy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
sentiments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
shouting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
striving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And then, four years later, I was there—still a child, but full of dreams and sentiments.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As I pondered, the recollections of my childhood came back to me, soft, calm, and smiling like islands of flowers, in the black gulf of confused thoughts which turned and twisted in my brain.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I CLOSED my eyes, and covered them with my hands, striving to forget the present in the past.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could see myself once again, a laughing schoolboy, playing, running, and shouting to my brothers, in the green avenues of the neglected garden of the home where my earlier years were spent.
