adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
Alec's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
baynounUS /beɪ/
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/
brought into existence
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
caredverbUS /kerd/
past form of “care” — feel concern or interest
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
drewnounUS /druː/
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
eavesnounUS /iːvz/
the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
eerieadjectiveUS /ˈɪri/
suggestive of the supernatural; mysterious
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
fearsnounUS /fɪrz/
plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
gloomnounUS /ɡluːm/
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
gloriousadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɔːriəs/
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
half-circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
hallsnounUS /hɔːlz/
plural of “hall” — an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
hauntverbUS /hɔːnt/
follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
laughternounUS /ˈlæftər/
the sound of laughing
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
lipsnounUS /lɪps/
plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
orchardnounUS /ˈɔːrtʃərd/
garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
OutsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
playingnounUS /ˈpleɪɪŋ/
the act of playing a musical instrument
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
rainnounUS /reɪn/
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
roofnounUS /ruːf/
a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
shrillingnoun
a continuing shrill noise
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
tearsnounUS /terz/
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
UnclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
wetadjectiveUS /wet/
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
willownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It had been a day of wild November wind, closing down into a wet, eerie twilight.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Outside, the wind was shrilling at the windows and around the eaves, and the rain was playing on the roof.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
wood-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ve thought of something amusing for the winter,” I said as we drew into a half-circle around the glorious wood-fire in Uncle Alec’s kitchen.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
writhingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪðɪŋ/
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading The old willow at the gate was writhing in the storm and the orchard was a place of weird music, born of all the tears and fears that haunt the halls of night.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But little we cared for the gloom and the loneliness of the outside world; we kept them at bay with the light of the fire and the laughter of our young lips.
