adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
BridgetnounUS /ˈbrɪdʒət/
Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523)
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
chamoisnoun
a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
climbverbUS /klaɪm/
go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
cobbles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrt.jɑːrd/
An unroofed area that is completely or partially enclosed by the walls of a house.
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
coveredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌvərd/
overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
Cronane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
crossverbUS /krɔːs/
travel across or pass over
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
decidedlyadverbUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdədli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
dilapidatedadjectiveUS /dəˈlæpədeɪtɪd/
in deplorable condition
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
fawns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
grassverbUS /ɡræs/
shoot down, of birds
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
INVITATIONnounUS /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/
a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something
From this reading THE INVITATION.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
leapedverbUS /lept/
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
lightnessnounUS /ˈlaɪtnəs/
a feeling of joy and pride
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
lotnounUS /lɑːt/
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
midstnounUS /mɪdst/
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
MurphysnounUS /ˈmɜːrfiz/
plural of “murphy” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
narrowverbUS /ˈneroʊ/
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
obstaclesnounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəlz/
plural of “obstacle” — something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
pathnounUS /pæθ/
a course of conduct
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
PresentlyadverbUS /ˈprezəntli/
in the near future
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
rocknounUS /rɑːk/
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
roughadjectiveUS /rʌf/
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
sadadjectiveUS /sæd/
experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
statenounUS /steɪt/
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading They had to cross a courtyard covered with rough cobbles and in a sad state of neglect and mess.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE INVITATION.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Presently they arrived at the back entrance of Cronane, the Murphys' decidedly dilapidated residence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
underwoodnounUS /ˈʌndərwʊd/
the brush (small trees and bushes and ferns etc.) growing beneath taller trees in a wood or forest
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
windingadjectiveUS /ˈwaɪndɪŋ/
marked by repeated turns and bends
From this reading Bridget and Nora began to climb up a very steep and narrow winding path.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading It was nothing more than a grass path in the midst of a lot of rock and underwood, but the girls were like young chamois, and leaped over such obstacles with the lightness of fawns.
