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 A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/
surrounded by; in the company of
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
BENJAMIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
Bernard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Bernard Maddison made no movement.
breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
calling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
clearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
cultivated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
cypresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
EARTH
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
heavens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
LEVY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
Maddison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Bernard Maddison made no movement.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Bernard Maddison made no movement.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
moss-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still Bernard Maddison made no movement.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Still Bernard Maddison made no movement.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
olive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
patches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
QUARRY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
RUNS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
shrunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
slumberous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
special
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
StillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Still Bernard Maddison made no movement.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A slight breeze rustled amongst the cypresses and the olive trees, and the air grew clearer.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
visions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
walks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It may have been that he shrunk from what was before him, or it may have been that he had some special purpose in thus calling up those broken visions of the past into his mind.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sun was low in the heavens, and long shadows lay across the brilliant patches of flowers, half wild, half cultivated, and on the moss-grown walks.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BENJAMIN LEVY RUNS HIS QUARRY TO EARTH The slumberous afternoon wore slowly away.
