adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
agesnounUS /ˈeɪdʒəz/
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
animalnounUS /ˈænəməl/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
barnnounUS /bɑːrn/
an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
bathedverbUS /beɪðd/
past form of “bathe” — cleanse the entire body
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
bloodnounUS /blʌd/
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
clearnessnounUS /ˈklɪrnəs/
free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
coalsnounUS /koʊlz/
plural of “coal” — fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
cryverbUS /kraɪ/
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
DavidnounUS /ˈdeɪvɪd/
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
death-music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
freezesnounUS /ˈfriːzɪz/
plural of “freeze” — the withdrawal of heat to change something from a liquid to a solid
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
frozenadjectiveUS /ˈfroʊzən/
turned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/
a frame of iron bars to hold a fire
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
heavilyadverbUS /ˈhevəli/
to a considerable degree
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
killedverbUS /kɪld/
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
leapings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
lonelyadjectiveUS /ˈloʊnli/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
lyingnounUS /ˈlaɪɪŋ/
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
madadjectiveUS /mæd/
roused to anger
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
NaturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
notesnounUS /noʊts/
plural of “note” — a brief written record
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
painnounUS /peɪn/
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
perspirationnounUS /ˌpɜːrspərˈeɪʃən/
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
plungingverbUS /ˈplʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
rangverbUS /ræŋ/
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
roomnounUS /ruːm/
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
rushesnounUS /ˈrʌʃəz/
plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
seizedverbUS /siːzd/
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
sleepingnounUS /ˈsliːpɪŋ/
the state of being asleep
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
sparkless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
stableadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪbəl/
resistant to change of position or condition
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
threenounUS /θriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
troughsnounUS /trɔːfs/
plural of “trough” — a narrow depression (as in the earth or between ocean waves or in the ocean bed)
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the still frozen air near two or three o'clock of next morning, such a cry rang out from inside the barn.
UpadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
violentadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪələnt/
acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
wailverbUS /weɪl/
emit long loud cries
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Up in his room, perfectly dark, for the coals in the grate were now sparkless, David was lying on his back, sleeping heavily and bathed in perspiration.
weakenedadjectiveUS /ˈwiːkənd/
impaired by diminution
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
whosoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading The fright, the pain, the despair: whosoever has heard these notes has listened to the wild death-music of Nature, ages old.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading There were the short rushes to and fro, round and round; then violent leapings against the door, the troughs, and sides of the stable; then mad plunging, struggling, panting; then a long, terrified, weakened wail, which told everything beyond the clearness of words.
XXnoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading XX At dead of night out in a lonely country, what sound freezes the blood like the quick cry of an animal seized and being killed?
