AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
AbbeynounUS /ˈæbi/
a church associated with a monastery or convent
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
Alleyne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
baggagenounUS /ˈbæɡədʒ/
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
bargesnounUS /ˈbɑːrdʒəz/
plural of “barge” — a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
barnsnounUS /bɑːrnz/
plural of “barn” — an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
beachnounUS /biːtʃ/
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
Beaulieu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
bellnounUS /bel/
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
blueadjectiveUS /bluː/
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
bristleverbUS /ˈbrɪsəl/
be in a state of movement or action
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
broadadjectiveUS /brɔːd/
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
CompanynounUS /ˈkʌmpəniː/
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
dawnnounUS /dɔːn/
the first light of day
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
deepadjectiveUS /diːp/
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
dressverbUS /dres/
put on clothes
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
Exbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
ferryverbUS /ˈferi/
transport from one place to another
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
fringenounUS /frɪndʒ/
the outside boundary or surface of something
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
heathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
housesnounUS /ˈhaʊsəz/
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
journeyedverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrnid/
past form of “journey” — undertake a journey or trip
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
lappedverbUS /læpt/
inflected form of “lap” — lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
Leonard'snounUS /ˈlenərdz/
possessive form of “leonard” — United States writer of thrillers (born in 1925)
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
Lepe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
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 To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
mastsnounUS /mæsts/
plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
measuredadjectiveUS /ˈmeʒərd/
having notes of fixed rhythmic value
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
monasticadjectiveUS /məˈnæstɪk/
of communal life sequestered from the world under religious vows
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
passedverbUS /pæst/
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
pastnounUS /pæst/
the time that has elapsed
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
reed-girt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
sea-port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
sightnounUS /saɪt/
an instance of visual perception
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
sleptverbUS /slept/
inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
sluggishadjectiveUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/
moving slowly
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
smokenounUS /smoʊk/
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
Solentnoun
a strait of the English Channel between the coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
spicarium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
squirenounUS /skwaɪr/
young nobleman attendant on a knight
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
streamnounUS /striːm/
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading At early dawn they passed across the broad, sluggish, reed-girt stream--men, horses, and baggage in the flat ferry barges--and so journeyed on through the fresh morning air past Exbury to Lepe.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
tollingverbUS /ˈtoʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “toll” — ring slowly
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
ToppingnounUS /ˈtɑːpɪŋ/
a flavorful addition on top of a dish
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
trailnounUS /treɪl/
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading Topping the heathy down, they came of a sudden full in sight of the old sea-port--a cluster of houses, a trail of blue smoke, and a bristle of masts.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
vespersnoun
the sixth of the seven canonical hours of the divine office; early evening; now often made a public service on Sundays
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
well-remembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading That night the Company slept at St. Leonard's, in the great monastic barns and spicarium--ground well known both to Alleyne and to John, for they were almost within sight of the Abbey of Beaulieu.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading To right and left the long blue curve of the Solent lapped in a fringe of foam upon the yellow beach.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A strange thrill it gave to the young squire to see the well-remembered white dress once more, and to hear the measured tolling of the deep vespers bell.
