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Running Water
Running Water

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Running Water
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.
Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.
On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.
On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.
The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Running Water

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.
Line 2
Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.
Line 3
On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.
Line 4
On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.
Line 5
The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Amidst preposition US /əˈmɪdst/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading “The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.”

QUESTION noun US /ˈquestion/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.”

All words in this reading · 123

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 BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

ago

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

animals

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

Arun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

banks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

beach

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

birds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

black

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

BOTHdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

brown

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

Built

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

castle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

centuries

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

Chayne's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

chimneys

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

cleft

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

cluster

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

clustered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

color

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

dipped

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

discovered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

Downs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

east

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

elm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

empty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

faced

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

forest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

garden

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

gave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

general

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

gorse-strewn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

gradually

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

grass

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

green

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

high

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

high-terraced

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

hill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

hollows

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

houses

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

illusion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

just

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

land

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

miles

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

park

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

Picardy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

QUESTIONnounUS /ˈquestion/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

ran

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

ridge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

River

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

road

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

rolled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

rounded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

russet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

scheme

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

searched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

set

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

shadow-holding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

side

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

SIDES

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From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

slope

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From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

slopes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

smoke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

south

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

space

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

stone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

strangers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

stretch

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

subduing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

Sussex

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

swirl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

taken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

ten

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

then

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

tiny

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION Chayne's house stood high upon a slope of the Sussex Downs.

upward

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

valley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

village

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

visible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

western

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading On its western side and just beneath the house, there was a cleft in the downs through which the high road ran and in the cleft the houses of a tiny village clustered even as at the foot of some old castle in Picardy.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

wide

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Built of stone two centuries ago, it seemed gradually to have taken on the brown color of the hill behind it, subduing itself to the general scheme, even as birds and animals will do; so that strangers who searched for it in the valley discovered it by the upward swirl of smoke from its wide chimneys.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the east the great ridge with its shadow-holding hollows, its rounded gorse-strewn slopes of grass, rolled away for ten miles and then dipped suddenly to the banks of the River Arun.

yews

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The house faced the south, and from its high-terraced garden, a great stretch of park and forest land was visible, where amidst the green and russet of elm and beach, a cluster of yews set here and there gave the illusion of a black and empty space.