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 When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
army
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
arrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
Bannister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
Bob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
BREAKFAST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The man was courteous in manner, but firm of speech.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
courteous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was courteous in manner, but firm of speech.
descendednounUS /ˈdescended/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
dimly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
drafted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
finally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was courteous in manner, but firm of speech.
hall-door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is not here,” replied Bob.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “He is not here,” replied Bob.
knocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was courteous in manner, but firm of speech.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “He is not here,” replied Bob.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
outlined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
provost-marshal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He is not here,” replied Bob.
respond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
response
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
Rhett
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
speech
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man was courteous in manner, but firm of speech.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
States
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
trembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
UNEXPECTED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
uniform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
United
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the door was finally opened, she could see, dimly outlined in the doorway, a man dressed in the uniform of a sergeant in the army of the United States.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “We have come,” he said to Bob, “by order of the provost-marshal, to arrest Rhett Bannister, who has been drafted and has failed to respond.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED BREAKFAST As Bob descended the stairs to open the hall-door in response to the knocking, his mother stood on the upper landing, trembling with excitement and fear.
