adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
assemblynounUS /əˈsembli/
a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/
placed in a grave
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
cheerfuladjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪrfəl/
being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
ChurchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
clerknounUS /klɜːrk/
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
cloudsnounUS /klaʊdz/
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
congregationnounUS /ˌkɑːŋɡrəˈɡeɪʃən/
a group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
departverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrt/
move away from a place into another direction
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
doorwaynounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪ/
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
endedadjectiveUS /ˈendəd/
having come or been brought to a conclusion
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/
an opening that permits escape or release
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
facenounUS /feɪs/
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
footstepsnounUS /ˈfʊtsteps/
plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
garbnounUS /ɡɑːrb/
clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
harbour-bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
Havenpool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
interioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɪriər/
situated within or suitable for inside a building
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
James'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪmzɪz/
possessive form of “james” — a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
kneesnounUS /niːz/
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
latchverbUS /lætʃ/
fasten with a latch
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
liftedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪftəd/
held up in the air
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
pulpitnounUS /ˈpʊlpɪt/
a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
releaseverbUS /riˈliːs/
release, as from one's grip
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
risingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪzɪŋ/
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
sailor'snounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
possessive form of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
sighverbUS /saɪ/
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/
first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For the moment the stillness was so complete that the surging of the sea could be heard outside the harbour-bar.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
ThenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
TownnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Then it was broken by the footsteps of the clerk going towards the west door to open it in the usual manner for the exit of the assembly.
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 The interior of St. James’s Church, in Havenpool Town, was slowly darkening under the close clouds of a winter afternoon.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was Sunday: service had just ended, the face of the parson in the pulpit was buried in his hands, and the congregation, with a cheerful sigh of release, were rising from their knees to depart.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Before, however, he had reached the doorway, the latch was lifted from without, and the dark figure of a man in a sailor’s garb appeared against the light.
