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 A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
Allinson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
allowed
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From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
amusement
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From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
austere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
basket-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
beech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
belt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
broached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
burly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
clergyman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
copper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
COUNCILnounUS /council/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
decorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
elderly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
everybody's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
expression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
Fenwood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
flooded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
Gertrude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
Ghyllside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
Hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
itching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
lawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
Leonard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
lot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
Personally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
red-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
remarked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
Robert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
solemn-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
surveying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
teacups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
Wannop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
We're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We're a decorous lot," Wannop remarked, surveying the others with amusement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading A COUNCIL Hot sunshine flooded the Ghyllside lawn, but there was a belt of shadow beneath a copper beech, where a family group had gathered.
whispering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Leonard sat in a basket-chair, talking to Mrs. Fenwood, an elderly widow with an austere expression; his wife and Gertrude Wannop were whispering over their teacups; Wannop, red-faced and burly, stood beside Robert Allinson, a solemn-looking clergyman.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Personally, I should be glad if we were allowed to go home without its being broached.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading "We have been here half an hour and not a word has been said yet upon the subject everybody's itching to talk about.
