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 But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
amazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
appallingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
bather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
clearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
cruelly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
curved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
dismayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
embarrassed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
foreshore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
gleam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
golden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
hitherto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
Indians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
lighthouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
northward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
Pacific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
patch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
Pomfrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
propinquity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
range
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
rocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
shipnounUS /ship/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
shore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Pomfrey was a gentleman, and as such was amazed, dismayed, and cruelly embarrassed.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
swell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
unhesitatingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
unsuspected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
vicinity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she was a simple bather from some vicinity hitherto unknown and unsuspected by him, it was clearly his business to shut up his glass and go back to his garden patch--although the propinquity of himself and the lighthouse must have been as plainly visible to her as she was to him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
WHITE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He swept the foreshore and horizon with his glass; there was neither boat nor ship--nor anything that moved, except the long swell of the Pacific.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the woman was unhesitatingly and appallingly WHITE, and her hair light even to a golden gleam in the sunshine.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She could have come only from the sea; for to reach the rocks by land she would have had to pass before the lighthouse, while the narrow strip of shore which curved northward beyond his range of view he knew was inhabited only by Indians.
