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 SACRIFICE A week had gone by.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
arrival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
barren
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
beast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SACRIFICE A week had gone by.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
ceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
concealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
Craig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
departing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
displeasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
dooryard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
ears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
Elizabeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
glaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SACRIFICE A week had gone by.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SACRIFICE A week had gone by.
halt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
impatient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
Landor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
litter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
MoreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
mound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
neverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
pawed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
perfect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
repetition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, with each repetition the arrival had been earlier, the halt longer.
SACRIFICE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SACRIFICE A week had gone by.
sensitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
slender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
sprinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
telltale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
testimony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
thoroughbred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first Craig on departing had carefully concealed the testimony of his presence beneath a sprinkling of dooryard litter; but at last he had ceased to do so, and bit by bit the mound had grown.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
waits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SACRIFICE A week had gone by.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Though the weather was perfect, nevertheless the beast had grown impatient under the long waits, and telltale, a glaring black mound had come into being where he had pawed his displeasure.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Each day of the seven the thoroughbred with the slender legs and the tiny sensitive ears had stood in the barren dooryard before Elizabeth Landor's home.
