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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
airtight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
April
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From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
birthplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
capsule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
carousel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
celestial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
chariot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
don't
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From this reading _Why don't they leave the stars alone?_ she thought.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
Earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
empty
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From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
encased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
enduring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
eternity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
halls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
Higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Why don't they leave the stars alone?_ she thought.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/
Recollections of past events.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
metal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
motionless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
past
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From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
riding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
southern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
star
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Why don't they leave the stars alone?_ she thought.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading _Why don't they leave the stars alone?_ she thought.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Why don't they leave the stars alone?_ she thought.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
touching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
verandahed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _A touching story of the most enduring love in all eternity._ That night her son was the first star.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Why don't they leave the stars alone?_ she thought.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A boy grown up too soon, riding round and round the world on a celestial carousel, encased in an airtight metal capsule in an airtight metal chariot ...
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She stood motionless in the garden, one hand pressed against her heart, watching him rise above the fields where he had played as a boy, where he had worked as a young man; and she wondered whether he was thinking of those fields now, whether he was thinking of her standing alone in the April night with her memories; whether he was thinking of the verandahed house behind her, with its empty rooms and silent halls, that once upon a time had been his birthplace.
zenith
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Higher still and higher he rose in the southern sky, and then, when he had reached his zenith, he dropped swiftly down past the dark edge of the Earth and disappeared from sight.
