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 It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
acts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
arguments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
bayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
bells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
bitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
Caniper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
Canipers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
ceiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
collapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
drove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
flesh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
future
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
hounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
hunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
Like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
loud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
meantimenounUS /ˈmiːntaɪm/
the period of time while something else is happening
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
overcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
product
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
righting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
Said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
slackly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
snow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
steadied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
threat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
varying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
wavered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said one of these, "The past is over," yet she saw the whole future of these Canipers as the product of her acts.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was the threat in the sound which reached her, soft or loud, as bells are heard in the wind, and in the meantime she steadied herself with varying arguments.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Like hounds, they bayed behind, and some day their breath would be on her neck, their teeth in her flesh, and she would fall to them.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading She no longer stared at the ceiling, for though her body had collapsed, her will had only wavered, and it was righting itself slowly, and the old thoughts which had been hunting her for years had not yet overcome her.
Zebedee's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a bitter winter, with more rain than snow, more snow than sunshine, and it seemed to Helen that half her life was spent in watching for Zebedee's figure bent against the storm as he drove up the road, while Mildred Caniper lay slackly in her bed.
