Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
appeared
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From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
back
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From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
came
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From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
colder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
critically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
drifted
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From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
dying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
evidently
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From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
Grenfell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "It's pretty and nothing more," he said.
hearth-logs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
indoors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
It's
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From this reading "It's pretty and nothing more," he said.
Kinnaird's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
LAKE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
listening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's pretty and nothing more," he said.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "It's pretty and nothing more," he said.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
opera
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's pretty and nothing more," he said.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's pretty and nothing more," he said.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was evidently singing a selection from an opera.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
Weston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading ON THE LAKE It was rather late that night when Weston and Grenfell sat smoking beside the dying fire.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Grenfell, who lay with his back against one of the hearth-logs, appeared to be listening critically.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze that came off the lake was colder than usual, and the rest of the party had retired indoors, but one window of the little wooden house stood open, and Miss Kinnaird's voice drifted softly out of it.
