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 NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
all
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
Amélie
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From this reading —Amélie Rives.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
Armitage's
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
attempts
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
barley-ears
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
begun
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
black-caps
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
chatter
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
Claiborne
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From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
coign
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
counsel
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
Dick
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
dining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
events
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From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
fears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
filled
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From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
follow
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/
very difficult to deal with or overcome
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
friends
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From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
hollow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
John
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
Judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
knew
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From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
mail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
MARGINS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
murmur
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
NARROW
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From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
reeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
Rives
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From this reading —Amélie Rives.
secrets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
sorry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
swinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
there'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
unfold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
valley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The events of the afternoon filled her mind, and she was not sorry to be alone.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Judge and Mrs. Claiborne were dining with some old friends in the valley, and Shirley, left alone, carried to the table several letters that had come in the late mail.
witnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It occurred to her that she was building up a formidable tower of strange secrets, and she wondered whether, having begun by keeping her own counsel as to the attempts she had witnessed against John Armitage’s life, she ought now to unfold all she knew to her father or to Dick.
wrens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NARROW MARGINS The black-caps pipe among the reeds, And there’ll be rain to follow; There is a murmur as of wind In every coign and hollow; The wrens do chatter of their fears While swinging on the barley-ears.
