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 There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
Athalie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
Cecil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
clusters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
Dane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
dawdled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
decorated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
detached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
figures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
fragrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
gloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
graceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
landed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
lilac-tinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
lilacs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
loomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
mantel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
mingling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
piano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
realise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
Reeve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
scentnounUS /sɛnt/
A distinctive smell or aroma.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
semi-dusk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
silhouetted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
spring-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
tobacconounUS /ˈtobacco/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you are not too tired to come, please do so.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
vaguely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a slight fragrance of tobacco in the room mingling with the fresh, spring-like scent of lilacs--great pale clusters of them decorated mantel and table, and the desk where Athalie sat writing to Captain Dane in the semi-dusk of a May evening.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do you realise that you have been away over a year?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Athalie wrote on: "I had not supposed you had landed until Cecil Reeve told me this evening.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there dim figures loomed in the big square room; the graceful shape of a young girl at the piano detached itself from the gloom; a man or two dawdled by the window, vaguely silhouetted against the lilac-tinted sky.
