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 It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
accomplishment
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
Arabella
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From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
beams
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From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
breeze
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From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
bush
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
carried
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From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
chopper
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
city
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From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
Clarence
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
clicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
cool
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From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
desire
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
eel-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
English
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
frequently
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From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
Ida
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
ILLUMINATION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
impelled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
impulsive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
justify
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
Kinnaird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
merely
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From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
motor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
purred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
railroad-hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
reasonably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
recognized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
relatives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
roar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
Scarthwaite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
sheltered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
slinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
smoothly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
swiftly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
traffic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
twisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The motor purred and clicked smoothly, slinging bright beams of light in front of it as it twisted eel-like through the traffic.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
Weston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
westwardadverbUS /ˈwɛstwərd/
toward the west
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading ILLUMINATION It was three or four months later when Ida was carried swiftly westward through the London streets toward twelve o'clock one night.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It had not been, as she now recognized, merely a desire to justify Clarence Weston in the eyes of his English relatives, for she had felt reasonably sure that this was a thing beyond accomplishment while he remained a railroad-hand or a bush chopper.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was thinking of that afternoon at Scarthwaite, and wondering, as she had done somewhat frequently since then, what had impelled her to speak in that impulsive fashion.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The glass that would have sheltered Ida from the cool night breeze was down, but she scarcely noticed the roar of the city or the presence of Arabella and Mrs. Kinnaird.
