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 SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
AcrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
AMUSEMENT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
asters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
autumn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
bareness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
beech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
border
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
Bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
canvas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
color
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
copper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
creeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
crimson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
dahlias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
draped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
gladiolus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
glowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
grim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
hammock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
Herbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
landscape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
languidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
Lansing's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
lawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
neighboring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
pensively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
prairie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
ranks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
reclined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
ribands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
SEEKS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
September
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
spikes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A neighboring border glowed with autumn flowers: ribands of asters, spikes of crimson gladiolus, ranks of dahlias.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
SYLVIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
tints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Bright sunshine lay upon the grass, but it was pleasantly cool in the shadow of the big copper beech.
Virginia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
vivid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the lawn a Virginia creeper draped the house with vivid tints.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
western
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The scene had nothing of the grim bareness of the western prairie of which Sylvia was languidly thinking; her surroundings shone with strong color, and beyond them a peaceful English landscape stretched away.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading SYLVIA SEEKS AMUSEMENT It was a fine September afternoon and Sylvia reclined pensively in a canvas hammock on Herbert Lansing's lawn with one or two opened letters in her hand.
