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 She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
breathing
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From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
brooding
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From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
conclusion
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From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
corners
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From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
distemper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
drop
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From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
Fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
fireplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
future
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
Gratian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
inclined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
knitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
Lairds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
needles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
Noel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
oldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
pitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
removed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
scream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
spectacles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
spidery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
stopping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
tune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
undecided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now and again the old lady would look up above her spectacles; move the corners of her lips ever so slightly, and drop her gaze again.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had pitted herself against Fate; so long as she knitted, the war could not stop—such was the conclusion Noel had come to.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was a very old lady—the oldest lady in the world, Noel thought—and she knitted without stopping, without breathing, so that the girl felt inclined to scream.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In the evening when George and Gratian were not in, Noel would often sit watching the needles, brooding over her as yet undecided future.
yellowish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading I In the boarding-house, whence the Lairds had not yet removed, the old lady who knitted, sat by the fireplace, and light from the setting sun threw her shadow on the wall, moving spidery and grey, over the yellowish distemper, in time to the tune of her needles.
