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 Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
ask
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From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
back
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From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
Beach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
BIG
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From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
chained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
eager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
expectancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
Gerald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
Gerald's
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From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
Gilbert's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
Graham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
Harbor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
he'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
husband's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
Instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
invariably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
Judith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
knee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
lean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
NeitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
removing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
response
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
rock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
sketch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
slab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
Snug
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
staying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
SurenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
to-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
unvarying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
WAVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Judith often sat for hours on the low slab of rock where her husband had made the sketch of Gerald.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading THE BIG WAVE Instead of staying the few weeks upon which they had planned at Snug Harbor Beach, Judith Graham and her husband’s mother remained on for nearly two months.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Neither spoke to the other of the secret hope which chained them to the place, but each morning their eyes swept the beach with eager expectancy and each evening they said, “Perhaps, to-morrow.”
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Whenever he saw her thus, Gerald would invariably leave his play for a few minutes and lean against her knee, just as he had leaned against Gilbert’s.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Sometimes neither of them spoke and sometimes Judith would ask--without removing her eyes from the distant horizon--“Do you think he’ll come back?” to which Gerald’s unvarying response was, “Sure.”
