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 Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
admitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
Anderson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
appear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
bewildering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
blink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
Bolton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
boxlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
cottage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
Denny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
dizzy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
Dryad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
EvernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
explained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
half-shuttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
intensity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
Judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
lurked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
Maynard's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
once-white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
panting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
possibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
Saturday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
savageness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
slope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
stifled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the dim light before night or sunrise
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading It was not Saturday night; there was no real reason why she should be watching, unless--unless it was hope that held her there.
unlighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
vigil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only in the last few hours since twilight had she admitted to herself the possibility that such a hope lurked behind her vigil.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Ever since it had grown dark enough for that signal to be seen, which had called across to her so many nights, she had been waiting before the table in front of the window--waiting even while she told herself that it could not appear.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Before then, when the thought had first come to her that Denny might cry out to her through the night, with that half-shuttered light, she had stifled it with a savageness that left her shaking, panting and dizzy from its bewildering intensity.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been hard for her to have explained just why it was so, but Dryad Anderson had been sitting there in the unlighted front room of the little once-white cottage before Judge Maynard's boxlike place on the hill, watching hour after hour for that light to blink out at her from the dark window of Denny Bolton's house on the opposite slope.
