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 She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
averted
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From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
bar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
behaviour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
bend
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From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
black-banded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
blades
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
bridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
buried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
cruelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
curving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
dovetailed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
edged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
fields
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
gabled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
girders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
glitter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
impersonal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
platform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
pure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
puzzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
rails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
scythes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
Small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
squaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
stare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
stave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
stiff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
swelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
swing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Every kind and beautiful thing on earth has been made so by some cruelty_.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
three-cornered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
tightening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They turned again at the end of the platform.
tweed-suited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Small three-cornered fields, clean edged like the pieces of a puzzle, red brown and pure bright green, dovetailed under the high black bar of the bridge.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tail of her long, averted stare was conscious of him, of his big, tweed-suited body and its behaviour, squaring and swelling and tightening in its dignity, of its heavy swing to her shoulder as they turned.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
worst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could stave off the worst by not looking at him, by looking at other things, impersonal, innocent things; the bright, yellow, sharp gabled station; the black girders of the bridge; the white signal post beside it holding out a stiff, black-banded arm; the two rails curving there, with the flat white glitter and sweep of scythes; pointed blades coming together, buried in the bend of the cutting.
