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The Freelands
The Freelands

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for The Freelands
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Freelands

Chapter XV

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.
Line 2
The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.
Line 3
Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.
Line 4
Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.
Line 5
Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

all

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

amiss

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

attack

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

awoke

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

Becket

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

birds

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

blackbirds

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

blank

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

bright

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

cacoethes

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

darkish

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

daughter

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

day

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

days

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

dew

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

dim

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

dry

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

dusty-coated

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

east

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

eyes

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

feathers

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

Felix

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

felt

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

few

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

field

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

flashing

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

flung

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

girl's

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

glowed

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

grew

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

Hampstead

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

heart

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

lawn

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

leaves

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

light

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

love

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

meet

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

moment

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

mornings

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

Nedda's

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

night

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

opened

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

ostrich

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

rain-drops

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

saw

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

scribendi

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

shiver

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

From this reading Whether the lawn below were a field of bright dew, or dry and darkish in a shiver of east wind, her eyes never grew dim all day; and her blood felt as light as ostrich feathers.

sieving

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

sing

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

songs

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

sou'west

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

Spring

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

Stormed

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

sun

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

sung

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

then

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

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

thrushes

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

up

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

warmth

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

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Spring and first love meet in a girl's heart, then the birds sing.

WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Whether the sun were flashing on the leaves, or rain-drops sieving through on a sou'west wind, the same warmth glowed up in her the moment her eyes opened.

window

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

From this reading The songs that blackbirds and dusty-coated thrushes flung through Nedda's window when she awoke in Hampstead those May mornings seemed to have been sung by herself all night.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.

young

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

From this reading Stormed by an attack of his cacoethes scribendi, after those few blank days at Becket, Felix saw nothing amiss with his young daughter.