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 Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
blown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
broke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
Caniper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
crying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
depths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
gusts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
impact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
lawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
listen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
loud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
Mildred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
miserable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
moaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
moor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
pillow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
poplars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
raindrops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
rainfall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
shriek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
slept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
sobnounUS /sɒb/
a sudden deep breath caused by emotion
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
strengthened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/
wealth or financial means
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
swish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
unwary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
varying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
wailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She hoped Mildred Caniper slept through a wailing that might have a personal note for her, and as she prepared to leave the room and listen on the landing, she thought she heard a new sound cutting through the swish of the rainfall and the shriek of wind.
waked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
wetted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The rain wetted her hair and hands and neck, while she stared into varying depths of blackness--the poplars against the sky, the lawn, like water, the close trees by the wall--and as she told herself that the wind had many voices, she heard a loud, unwary sob and the impact of one hard substance on another.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Helen waked, that night, from a short deep sleep, to hear the falling of heavy rain and sharp gusts of wind that bowed the poplars.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a smaller sound, as though a child were alone and crying in the night, and she leaned from her window to look into the garden.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As the storm strengthened, raindrops were blown on to her pillow, and she could hear the wind gathering itself up before it swept moaning across the moor and broke with a miserable cry against the walls.
