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 And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
Abbey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
break
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
Dean's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
Despard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
distract
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
Downstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
filling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
inaudible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
inhabitants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
Lodges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
Lottie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
matins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
proceedings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
swell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Downstairs the little maid-of-all-work had closed the door of the kitchen, so that her proceedings were inaudible.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The house was still, no one moving in it--nothing to distract her thoughts.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
VISITORS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading VISITORS.
Walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Now and then a swell of music from the Abbey, where service was going on, swept in, filling the silence for a moment; but most of the inhabitants of the Lodges were at matins, and all was very still in the sunshine, the Dean’s Walk lying broad and quiet, with scarcely a shadow to break the light.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading And what a problem it was with which Lottie Despard was thus left alone!