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 Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
absolution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
avail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
balustrade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
break
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
confessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
explained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
fountains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
Grania
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
leaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
lovers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
Monsignor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
obtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
Owen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
priest's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
promise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
promises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
reflected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
refuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
resume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
send
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
shameful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
sins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
slope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
splashing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
stupor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
subsequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
Ulick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That promise she could not give, for she had promised Ulick that she would sing Grania, and she had promised Owen to see him in three months.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Monsignor would tell her that to send away her lovers was not sufficient, and he would refuse his absolution unless she promised him not to see them any more.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
weak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to her both weak and shameful to break either of these promises.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Then, almost without thinking at all, in a sort of stupor, she walked over the hill and descended the slope, and leaning over the balustrade she looked at the fountains.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But the splashing water explained nothing, and she turned to resume her walk; and she reflected that to send away her lovers would avail her nothing, unless she subsequently confessed her sins and obtained the priest's absolution.
