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 We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
aspirin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
Beckett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
Bitry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
cathedral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
Compiegne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdrɛdfəl/
extremely frightening or unpleasant
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
field-glasses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
gazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
headache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
LittlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
Mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
Padre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
pointing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
pronounced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
Ravin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
ravine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
Soissons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
star
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
stung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
thankfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
trip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then we lost ourselves in the Ravin de Bitry, and arrived thankfully at Compiegne two hours later than we had planned.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We expected to have part of a day at Soissons, but--I told you of the dreadful flies in that ravine of death, and how Mother Beckett was stung on the throat.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next day she had a headache, but took aspirin, and pronounced herself well enough for the trip to Soissons.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When last I spoke to you about it, we were gazing through field-glasses at the single tower of the cathedral, pointing out of purple shadows toward the evening star of hope.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Little did I think, Padre, to write you from Soissons!
