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 COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
afforded
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From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
Alice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
beehive
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From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
card
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From this reading Should he send the lady's card?
clerk
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From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
COLUMBIAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
coming-up
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From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
contrast
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From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
downtown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
fashionable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
gayly-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
gentlemennounUS /gentlemen/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Johnson had mostly kept her room.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Should he send the lady's card?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Yes, she was, and her room was No. ----.
houses
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From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
impertinently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
inquiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
Johnson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Johnson had mostly kept her room.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
lady's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Should he send the lady's card?
Lina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
mostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Johnson had mostly kept her room.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Yes, she was, and her room was No. ----.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
piazza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes, she was, and her room was No. ----.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
send
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Should he send the lady's card?
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yes, she was, and her room was No. ----.
Shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Should he send the lady's card?
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
stamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
stare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
striking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE COLUMBIAN It was very quiet at the Columbian, and the few gentlemen seated upon the piazza seemed to be of a different stamp from those at the more fashionable houses, as there were none of them smoking, nor did they stare impertinently at the gayly-dressed lady coming-up the steps, and inquiring of the clerk if Miss Alice Johnson were there.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading 'Lina had brought no card, but she gave her name, and passed on into the parlor, which afforded a striking contrast to the beehive downtown.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yes, she was, and her room was No. ----.
