AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
altarnounUS /ˈɔːltər/
the table in Christian churches where communion is given
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
approvedadjectiveUS /əˈpruːvd/
established by authority; given authoritative approval
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/
at right angles to the center line of a ship
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
bandnounUS /bænd/
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
bareadjectiveUS /ber/
completely unclothed
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
bitteradjectiveUS /ˈbɪtər/
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
brownounUS /braʊ/
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
chancelnoun
area around the altar of a church for the clergy and choir; often enclosed by a lattice or railing
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
chestnounUS /tʃest/
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
clogverbUS /klɑːɡ/
become or cause to become obstructed
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
colorsnounUS /ˈkʌlərz/
a flag that shows its nationality
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
compressedadjectiveUS /kəmˈprest/
pressed tightly together
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
dryadjectiveUS /draɪ/
free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
eyenounUS /aɪ/
the organ of sight
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
FulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/
plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
gloomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
half-unconscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
heartnounUS /hɑːrt/
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
heavennounUS /ˈhevən/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
hummed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
keynounUS /kiː/
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
leadverbUS /led/
take somebody somewhere
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
LETTERSnounUS /ˈletərz/
the literary culture
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
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 She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
marriagenounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/
the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
meantverbUS /ment/
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
meetverbUS /miːt/
come together
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
mockedverbUS /mɑːkt/
past form of “mock” — treat with contempt
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
painnounUS /peɪn/
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
panenounUS /peɪn/
sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
pleaseverbUS /pliːz/
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
sighverbUS /saɪ/
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
songnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
stagnantadjectiveUS /ˈstæɡnənt/
not circulating or flowing
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
StilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
towernounUS /ˈtaʊər/
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
trinketsnounUS /ˈtrɪŋkəts/
plural of “trinket” — cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
vanenounUS /veɪn/
mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
vowverbUS /vaʊ/
make a vow; promise
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She took the little ivory chest, With half a sigh she turned the key, Then raised her head with lips compressed, And gave my letters back to me; And gave the trinkets and the rings, My gifts, when gifts of mine could please.
wholesomeadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊlsəm/
conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading Full cold my greeting was and dry; She faintly smiled, she hardly moved; I saw, with half-unconscious eye, She wore the colors I approved.
wrathnounUS /ræθ/
intense anger (usually on an epic scale)
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading I turned and hummed a bitter song That mocked the wholesome human heart, And then we met in wrath and wrong, We met, but only meant to part.
yewnounUS /juː/
wood of a yew; especially the durable fine-grained light brown or red wood of the English yew valued for cabinetwork and archery bows
From this reading THE LETTERS Still on the tower stood the vane, A black yew gloomed the stagnant air; I peered athwart the chancel pane, And saw the altar cold and bare.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A clog of lead was round my feet, A band of pain across my brow; "Cold altar, heaven and earth shall meet Before you hear my marriage vow."
