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 As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
advisable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
agitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
apartment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
aroused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
bald
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
bath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
bed-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
bland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
blindly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
chamber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
clapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
custom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
draw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
drugged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
enter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
Eris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
fat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
features
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
fire-escapes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
flourished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
glimpse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
Graydon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
Hattie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
living-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
lock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
mechanically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
neighbourhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
rapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/
powers of perception and awareness
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
shiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
shocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
SuddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Suddenly a glimpse of Graydon in the living-room beyond brought the girl to her shocked senses.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
unlocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
waddled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As Eris was entirely alone in the apartment at night, it had been her custom to lock and bolt her chamber door,--a rough neighbourhood and rear fire-escapes making it advisable.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There seemed to be another man there, too--a fat, bald, bland little man who smiled and bowed to her, flourished a straw hat, clapped it on his shiny head, and immediately waddled out of the apartment.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading So now, when the rapping on her bed-room door aroused her, she rose mechanically, still drugged with sleep, made her way blindly to the door, and unlocked it.
woman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she opened her door so that Hattie could enter and draw her morning bath, the sight of the coloured woman’s agitated features startled her.
