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 When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
apartment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
block
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
climbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
decide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
derby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
detective's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
dimly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
discernible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
flights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
frame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
interviewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
jamb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
janitress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
leading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
learning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
Martha
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
method
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
Munger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
panels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
Paul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
Pry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
rays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
served
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
skylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
Stephen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
thick-set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
touching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
twist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In that case, a twist of his foot between the door and the jamb would block the game.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
unlocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Martha, on her return from Stephen's, had climbed the dimly lighted stairs leading to her apartment, she ran against a thick-set man, in brown clothes and derby hat, seated on the top step.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She might decide to leave him outside its panels while she got in her fine work of hiding the thing he had climbed up three flights of stairs to find.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
wreck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had interviewed the faded old wreck who served as janitress and, learning that Mrs. Munger would be back any minute, had taken this method of being within touching distance when the good woman unlocked her door.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Are you the man who has been waiting for me?” she exclaimed, as the detective's big frame became discernible under the faint rays from the “Paul Pry” skylight.
