Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
ambush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
barred
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From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
birth
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
blaze
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From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
blazed
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
breed
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From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
brooding
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
casting
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
ceiling
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
closed
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From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
danced
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From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
darkening
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
face
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
Farm
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
farther
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
fitfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
flames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
form
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From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
furniture
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
gave
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
generous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
hearth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
hop-o
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
house-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
huddled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
lurking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
menace
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
my-thumbs
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
persons
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From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
rarely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
reflection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
sank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
seeming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
shrunken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
shutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
skinflint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
smoke-grimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
sprang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
Starvecrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
stooped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
suffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no other light in the room; it was rarely the old skinflint suffered another.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
Walterson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was night, and the fire, the one generous thing in the house-place at Starvecrow Farm, blazed fitfully; casting its light now on Walterson’s brooding face as he stooped over the heat, now on the huddled shrunken form that filled the farther side of the hearth.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
whimsically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the flames rose and fell, the shadows of the two men danced whimsically behind them.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At one moment they sprang up, darkening the whole smoke-grimed ceiling and seeming to menace the persons who gave them birth, at another they sank into mere hop-o’-my-thumbs, lurking in ambush behind the furniture.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And to-night the shutters were closed and barred that even the reflection of the blaze might not be seen without and breed suspicion.
