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 Moses was having a busy day.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
apron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
baize
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From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
bird-cages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
braved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
busy
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From this reading Moses was having a busy day.
Carolina
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From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
carpet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
china
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From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
Clapham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
close-fitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
Connecticut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
Corners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
cranium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
crates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
crowning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
darky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was having a busy day.
Ebner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
Ford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
formerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
Four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
friction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Moses was having a busy day.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
heterogeneous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
littered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
miscellaneous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
Moses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was having a busy day.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
North
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
packed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
packing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
polish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
Preston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
risks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
rolls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
Roy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
searching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
shirt-sleeves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
sidewalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
skull-cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
spots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
State
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
Sue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
tied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
umbrella-stands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
unnecessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
utensils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
waist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Moses was having a busy day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Mr. Ebner Ford, late of Clapham Four Corners, State of Connecticut; Mrs. Ebner Ford, formerly Preston, late of Roy, State of North Carolina, and her daughter, Miss Sue Preston, were moving in.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The front hall was packed full with a heterogeneous mass of miscellaneous furniture, the sidewalk littered with straw packing, kitchen utensils, empty bird-cages, umbrella-stands, crates of china, and rolls of carpet.
wool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moses was in his shirt-sleeves, a green baize apron tied about his waist, a close-fitting skull-cap crowning his gray wool.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading There were spots on his cranium which the friction of life had worn to a polish, and, the January air being keen and searching, the old darky braved no unnecessary risks.
