adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/
in the past
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
attentiveadjectiveUS /əˈtentɪv/
(often followed by “to”) giving care or attention
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
Bella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
boy'snounUS /bɔɪz/
possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
calmverbUS /kɑːm/
make calm or still
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
deprivedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpraɪvd/
marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
dividedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/
separated into parts or pieces
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
embraceverbUS /emˈbreɪs/
include in scope; include as part of something broader; have as one's sphere or territory
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
enviedverbUS /ˈenvid/
inflected form of “envy” — feel envious towards; admire enviously
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
Francesco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
freedomnounUS /ˈfriːdəm/
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
hymning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/
as a matter of instinct
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
Ischianoun
a volcanic island (part of Campania) in the Tyrrhenian Sea at the north end of the Bay of Naples
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
isletnounUS /ˈaɪlɪt/
a small island
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
ItalynounUS /ˈɪtəli/
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
NaplesnounUS /ˈneɪpəlz/
a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
NapolinounUS /ˈnæpəli/
a port and tourist center in southwestern Italy; capital of the Campania region
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
Nisida
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
peaknounUS /piːk/
the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
pedestalnounUS /ˈpedəstəl/
a support or foundation
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
rocknounUS /rɑːk/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
rootedadjectiveUS /ˈruːtəd/
absolutely still
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
sangnounUS /sæŋ/
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
shiftedverbUS /ˈʃɪftɪd/
past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/
the act of singing vocal music
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
sirennounUS /ˈsaɪrən/
a sea nymph (part woman and part bird) supposed to lure sailors to destruction on the rocks where the nymphs lived
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
SomewhereadverbUS /ˈsʌmwer/
in or at or to some place
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
songnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
staringadjectiveUS /ˈsterɪŋ/
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
sunnounUS /sʌn/
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
tinyadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪni/
very small
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For the voice that sang of the beautiful city was coming towards her from the beautiful city, hymning the siren it had left perhaps but two hours ago.
untroubledadjectiveUS /ənˈtrʌbəld/
not beset by troubles or disturbance or distress
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On his pedestal set upon rock San Francesco seemed to be attentive to the voice.
Vere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Somewhere, not far off on the still sea that held the tiny islet in a warm embrace, a boy’s voice was singing “Napoli Bella.”
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He stood beyond the sheltered pool of the sea that divided the islet from the mainland, staring across at Vere as if he envied her; he who was rooted in Italy and deprived of her exquisite freedom.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Vere heard the song as she sat in the sun with her face set towards Nisida and the distant peak of Ischia; and instinctively she shifted her position, and turned her head, looking towards the calm and untroubled water that stretched between her and Naples.
