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 "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
beeches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
Black
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From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
boughs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
boyish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
clapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
clapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
delicately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
denser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
echoed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
entry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
flecked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
forest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
Hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
jay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
joined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
lad's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
loudly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
majestic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
masses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
midsummer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
pines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
portals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
reigned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
soared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
Spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
star
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
sultry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was still some distance above the horizon, but the valley was so narrow that the day star had disappeared, before making its majestic entry into the portals of night.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Spring had entered the Black Forest a few weeks before.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
wings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
wood-pigeon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hitherto silence had reigned under the boughs of the pines and tops of the beeches, but now a wood-pigeon joined in the lad's laugh, and a jay, startled by the clapping of hands, spread its brown wings, delicately flecked with blue, and soared from one pine to another.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A word, only a word!" cried a fresh, boyish voice, then two hands were loudly clapped and a gay laugh echoed through the forest.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading May was just over, yet the weather was as sultry as in midsummer and clouds were gathering in denser and denser masses.
