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 When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
bases
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
colour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
Delia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
Delia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
fading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
frosty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
housemaid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
Lawrence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
Monk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
opaline
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
paler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
patch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
range
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
replaced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
separate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
sinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
slope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patch of paler colour on the purple slope of the hills marked the long front of Monk Lawrence.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
stretches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
strewing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
temporarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
vision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
vividly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
Weston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strewing of snow lay on the ground, and the bare black trees rose, vividly separate, on the white stretches of grass.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her window looked to the north along the bases of the low range of hills which shut in the valley and the village.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of the first days of the New year rose clear and frosty.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the young housemaid who had temporarily replaced Weston as Delia's maid drew back her curtains at half-past seven, Delia caught a vision of an opaline sky with a sinking moon and fading stars.
