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 Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
backward
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From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
bank
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From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
blinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
boa
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From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
broad-brimmed
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From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
buttons
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From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
cigarette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
clang
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From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
coquettish
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From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
curling
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From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
Devonshire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
Duchess
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From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
ear
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From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
feather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
fidgeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
fingers
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From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
fur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
gazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
glove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
hesitating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
Holmes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
Looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
neutral-tinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
oscillated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
panoply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
parted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
peeped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
plunge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
risen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
swimmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
symptoms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
throwing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I have seen those symptoms before,” said Holmes, throwing his cigarette into the fire.
tilted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp clang of the bell.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove buttons.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her ear.
