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Under the Greenwood Tree
Under the Greenwood Tree

Chapter XI · A Meeting of the Quire

Cover illustration for Under the Greenwood Tree
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was the evening of a fine spring day.
The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.
The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.
They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.
Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Under the Greenwood Tree

Chapter XI · A Meeting of the Quire

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was the evening of a fine spring day.
Line 2
The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.
Line 3
The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.
Line 4
They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.
Line 5
Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was the evening of a fine spring day.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 It was the evening of a fine spring day.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

amber

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

appeared

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

backed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

blaze

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

brightly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

brims

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

cart-wheels

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

chief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

choir

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

cloudy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

descending

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

evening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

eyes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

front

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

group

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

hair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

hanging

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

hats

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

hollow

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

horses

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

house

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

illuminated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

legs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

level

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

locks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

lost

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

lower

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

lowness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

masses

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

Mellstock

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

members

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

Mr

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

nebulous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

outline

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

parish

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

Penny's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

protection

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

rendering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

roadside

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

round

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

shop-window

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

sill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

source

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

spring

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

steeple

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

sun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

use

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading They were all brightly illuminated, and each was backed up by a shadow as long as a steeple; the lowness of the source of light rendering the brims of their hats of no use at all as a protection to the eyes.

village

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was the evening of a fine spring day.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.

wild

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The descending sun appeared as a nebulous blaze of amber light, its outline being lost in cloudy masses hanging round it, like wild locks of hair.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mr. Penny’s was the last house in that part of the parish, and stood in a hollow by the roadside so that cart-wheels and horses’ legs were about level with the sill of his shop-window.

workshop

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The chief members of Mellstock parish choir were standing in a group in front of Mr. Penny’s workshop in the lower village.