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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 nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
admitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
carelessly
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From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
cigarette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
disturbed
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From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
easier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
else
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From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
Foster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
glanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
Graham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
Graham's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
impatient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
indifferent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
knocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
languidly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
offered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
outer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Graham pushed aside some papers on his desk as if impatient at being disturbed.
recognized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
Sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by alcohol
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
strolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was dressed and looked like a sober business man, and Foster admitted that it was ridiculous to imagine him to be anything else.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading There was nobody in the outer office when he opened the door, but after he had knocked once or twice a voice he recognized told him to come in and he strolled carelessly into Graham's room.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sitting down, he offered his cigarette case to Graham, who glanced at him with some surprise but took a cigarette while Foster lighted another.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be easier to look languidly indifferent if he could smoke.
