Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
advance
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From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
all
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From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
almost
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From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
big
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From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
change
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From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
chosen
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From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
clear
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From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
County
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From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
DARK
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From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
FairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
fairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
gently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
hope-blighting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
kindly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
lifted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
noddednounUS /nodded/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
Northvale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
pause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
plausible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
powerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
SEEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
sentence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
shortly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
silently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And at each pause and each gently asked question she nodded silently, as if it was all quite clear and plausible, but her heart was breaking.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by alcohol
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her all about how county fairs are big things, planned by many men, months and months in advance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He looked around into her sober face, and sometimes lifted it to his, and at almost every hope-blighting sentence, asked her if she did not understand.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He told her very gently and kindly how Northvale had been chosen because it was the county seat and how he was powerless to change the plans.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading SEEN IN THE DARK So then he told her how it was about the County Fair, which shortly would open.
