adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
applenounUS /ˈæpəl/
fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
balconiesnounUS /ˈbælkəniz/
plural of “balcony” — an upper floor projecting from the rear over the main floor in an auditorium
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
castlenounUS /ˈkæsəl/
a large and stately mansion
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
discoververbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
excitedlyadverbUS /ɪkˈsaɪtədli/
with excitement; in an excited manner
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
extraordinaryadjectiveUS /ˌekstrəˈɔːrdəneri/
beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
fast-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
gablesnounUS /ˈɡeɪbəlz/
plural of “gable” — the vertical triangular wall between the sloping ends of gable roof
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
greennounUS /ɡriːn/
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
ladenadjectiveUS /ˈleɪdən/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
Mea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
meadownounUS /ˈmedoʊ/
a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
meadowsnounUS /ˈmedoʊz/
plural of “meadow” — a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
merryadjectiveUS /ˈmeri/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
mountain-side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
neighborhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
pine-trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
richlyadverbUS /ˈrɪtʃli/
to an ample degree or in an ample manner
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
searchinglyadverb
in a searching manner
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
shuttersnounUS /ˈʃʌtərz/
plural of “shutter” — a mechanical device on a camera that opens and closes to control the time of a photographic exposure
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
soughingadjective
characterized by soft sounds
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
spyverbUS /spaɪ/
catch sight of
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
swallowsnounUS /ˈswɑːloʊz/
plural of “swallow” — a small amount of liquid food
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
treesnounUS /triːz/
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
twittering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In its neighborhood not a sound could be heard except the twittering of the birds and the soughing of the old pine-trees.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
valleynounUS /ˈvæli/
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But just now two merry eyes were searchingly raised to the castle from the meadow below, as if they might discover something extraordinary behind the fast-closed shutters.
whizzedverbUS /wɪzd/
inflected form of “whiz” — make a soft swishing sound
From this reading On bright summer evenings the swallows whizzed as before about the corner gables, but no more merry eyes looked down from the balconies to the green meadows and richly laden apple trees in the valley.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading For nearly twenty years the fine old castle had stood silent and deserted on the mountain-side.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "Mea, come quick," the young spy exclaimed excitedly, "look!
