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 JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
accountsnounUS /ˈaccounts/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
acquaintances
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From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
all
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From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
become
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From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
Beryngford
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
building
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From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
caused
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
chanced
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From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
city
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
cordialnounUS /cordial/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
discoveries
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
encouraged
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From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
Episcopalian
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From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
expense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
fail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
grand
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From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
growing
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
incurring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
interior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
IRVING
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
JOY
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From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
metropolis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
Newspaper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
organ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
organist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
planning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
prominence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
purchase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
quarries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
succeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
twenty-two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
unconsciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
unhappiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
vanished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Newspaper accounts of the building of the new church, and the purchase of a large pipe organ, chanced to fall under her eye just as she was planning to leave the scene of her unhappiness.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading JOY IRVING had come to Beryngford at the time when the discoveries of the quarries caused that village to spring into sudden prominence as a growing city.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I can at least only fail if I try for the position of organist there,” she said, “and if I succeed in this interior town, I can hide myself from all the world without incurring heavy expense.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had been the organist in the grand new Episcopalian Church now for three years; and she had made many cordial acquaintances who would have become near friends, if she had encouraged them.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So all unconsciously Joy fled from the metropolis to the very place from which her mother had vanished twenty-two years before.
