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 The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
alike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
asleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
azure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
bluish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
bosom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
breathing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
carpet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
chimney-piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
cloudland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
couch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
delightful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
Facing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
folds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
gleam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
hangings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
hue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
Hélène
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
imparting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
invest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
lightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
loomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
night-lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
personified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
plunged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
relievednounUS /ˈrelieved/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
rosewood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
shade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
sheets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
simplicity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
streaming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
tints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
unrestraint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
vagueness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The quiet simplicity of the room, the blue tints on the hangings, furniture, and carpet, served at this hour of night to invest everything with the delightful vagueness of cloudland.
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
velvet-curtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
wardrobe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
widow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With hands crossed on her bosom, and breathing lightly, lay Hélène, asleep—mother and widow alike personified by the quiet unrestraint of her attitude.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a quiet gleam of light cutting across the round table and the couch, streaming over the heavy folds of the velvet curtains, and imparting an azure hue to the mirror of the rosewood wardrobe placed between the two windows.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night-lamp with a bluish shade was burning on the chimney-piece, behind a book, whose shadows plunged more than half the chamber in darkness.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Facing the windows, and within sweep of the shadow, loomed the velvet-curtained bed, a black mass, relieved only by the white of the sheets.
