Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
abnormal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
bacon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
becomes
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
blessings
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
Breakfast
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
cannot
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
closely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
clouds
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From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
collar
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From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
day
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
dismal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
dismalness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
due
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
eggs
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From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
eloquent
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From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
feels
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
Finchley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
glued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
grudges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
Holt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
horizon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
humanity
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From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
liverish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
napkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
precocious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
proverbially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
ProvidencenounUS /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/
The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
Road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
soiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could feel, if not see storm clouds on the horizon.
SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
thanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Breakfast is so proverbially dismal, that dismalness becomes good form; humanity feels silent and liverish, so it grudges Providence its due, for it cannot return thanks for the precocious blessings of the day.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
tucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
unfolded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing abnormal in this, except perhaps that he kept his eyes more closely glued than usual to the table cloth; moreover, he had not unfolded the paper.
Victoria
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mr Holt sat over his eggs and bacon, eating quickly with both hands, every now and then soiling the napkin tightly tucked into the front of his low collar.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Such was breakfast at Finchley Road, and Victoria would not have noticed it on that particular morning had the silence not somehow been eloquent.
