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 seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
beech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
bread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
collected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
contemplated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
cutting
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From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
dammed-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
ducks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
Emily
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From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
feed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
filled
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From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
gazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
Hubert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
lake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
plank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
shocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
sluice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
Taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'It seems to me quite shocking that he could have even contemplated such a thing.'
trickled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'But look at these poor ducks; they have followed us all the way, and I have forgotten to feed them!'
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a plank by which to cross the deep cutting.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hubert and Emily paused, and stood gazing at the large beech wood that swept over some rising ground.
wooden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Taking out all the bread that remained in the basket, Emily threw it to the ducks that had collected where the dammed-up stream that filled the lake trickled over a wooden sluice.
