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 It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
Beldover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
Brangwens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
charm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
colliery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
Criches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was crowded now with the family and the wedding guests.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was crowded now with the family and the wedding guests.
farm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was crowded now with the family and the wedding guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
hid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
manor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
meadow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was crowded now with the family and the wedding guests.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
park
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
picturesque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
rural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
Shortlands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
slope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
sloping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
solitary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
successfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, the scene was rural and picturesque, very peaceful, and the house had a charm of its own.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
Water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was crowded now with the family and the wedding guests.
wedding-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home.
Willey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was crowded now with the family and the wedding guests.
wooded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shortlands looked across a sloping meadow that might be a park, because of the large, solitary trees that stood here and there, across the water of the narrow lake, at the wooded hill that successfully hid the colliery valley beyond, but did not quite hide the rising smoke.
