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 therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
according
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
announced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
basking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
blinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
bunched-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
butler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
charge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
criednounUS /cried/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
delightfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
duly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
excluded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
flooded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
frank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
frock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
gloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
glorious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
Hester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
lowered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
Mark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
master's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
muslin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
Pinkthorpe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
pinky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
radiantadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdiənt/
shining brightly
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
rattan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
reclining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
ringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
strengthening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
sun-rays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
surrounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
Veeraswamy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
verandah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Veeraswamy, the butler, had, according to his master's standing order, lowered the heavy rattan blinds of the verandah, and duly excluded the strengthening sun-rays from the rooms under his charge.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, this is good," he exclaimed, in a frank, ringing voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was therefore something of a surprise to a visitor now being announced to pass from the surrounding gloom to a chamber flooded with sunshine.
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mark, this is a happy surprise!" cried Hester with a radiant smile, coming forward from the writing-table where she sat.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why, I expected to find you a bunched-up mystery of white muslin reclining in a dark room; and here you are basking in a glorious light, delightfully like the Hester of Pinkthorpe, even to your pinky frock!"
