adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
AprilnounUS /ˈeɪprəl/
the month following March and preceding May
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
black-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
boynounUS /bɔɪ/
a youthful male person
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/
the act of breaking something
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
brooknounUS /brʊk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
creaturenounUS /ˈkriːtʃər/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
descendedverbUS /dɪˈsendəd/
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
famishedadjectiveUS /ˈfæmɪʃt/
extremely hungry
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
fenceverbUS /fens/
enclose with a fence
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
foodnounUS /fuːd/
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
footnounUS /fʊt/
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
fraternaladjectiveUS /frəˈtɜːrnəl/
of or relating to a fraternity or society of usually men
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
French-Canadian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
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 It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
hiredadjectiveUS /ˈhaɪərd/
having services engaged for a fee
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
hollowadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːloʊ/
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
invitationnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
LeonnounUS /ˈliːɑːn/
a historical area and former kingdom in northwestern Spain
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
liltnounUS /lɪlt/
a jaunty rhythm in music
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/
the act of tarrying
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
livelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvli/
full of life and energy
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
manipulatedverbUS /məˈnɪpjəleɪtɪd/
past form of “manipulate” — influence or control shrewdly or deviously
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
mansenoun
a large and imposing house
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/
march in a procession
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
meltingnounUS /ˈmeltɪŋ/
the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
mouth-organ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
OnlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
productnounUS /ˈprɑːdəkt/
commodities offered for sale
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
promiseverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/
make a promise or commitment
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
pulsesnounUS /ˈpʌlsɪz/
plural of “pulse” — (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
snatchverbUS /snætʃ/
to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
snatchedverbUS /snætʃt/
past form of “snatch” — to grasp hastily or eagerly
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
tingled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
toynounUS /tɔɪ/
an artifact designed to be played with
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading As he descended into the little hollow below the manse a lively lilt of music drifted up to meet him.
urchinnounUS /ˈɜːrtʃən/
poor and often mischievous city child
From this reading It was only the product of a mouth-organ, manipulated by a little black-eyed, French-Canadian hired boy, sitting on the fence by the brook; but there was music in the ragged urchin and it came out through his simple toy.
walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/
close enough to be walked to
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading One evening, when March was melting into April, and the pulses of spring were stirring under the lingering snow, he was walking home from school alone.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading Only once in the long winter did he come near to breaking his promise.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It tingled over Felix from head to foot; and, when Leon held out the mouth-organ with a fraternal grin of invitation, he snatched at it as a famished creature might snatch at food.
