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 The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
admiral's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
Alpine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
Blonde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
console
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
costume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
crude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
dressing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
enormous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
entering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
finishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
flooded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
gas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
giving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
greenroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
jets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
laundress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
make-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
obliquely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
performance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
plumes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
Prullière
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
rubbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
scrutinizing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
Simonne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
situated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
surmounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
sword
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
thirty-fourth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
touches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
tuft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
Variétés
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Has he arrived?” asked Prullière, entering the room in his Alpine admiral’s costume, which was set off by a big sword, enormous top boots and a vast tuft of plumes.
Venus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The gas jets on either side of the mirror flooded her with warm, crude light.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At the Variétés they were giving the thirty-fourth performance of the Blonde Venus.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The first act had just finished, and in the greenroom Simonne, dressed as the little laundress, was standing in front of a console table, surmounted by a looking glass and situated between the two corner doors which opened obliquely on the end of the dressing-room passage.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading No one was with her, and she was scrutinizing her face and rubbing her finger up and down below her eyes with a view to putting the finishing touches to her make-up.
