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 little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
alight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
annum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
apartment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Burle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Charles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/
unpleasantly cold
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
consisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
damaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
des
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
district
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
falling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
francs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
grandson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
gutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
lessons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
meager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
narrowest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
nine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
November
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
perprepositionUS /pɜːr/
for each
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
pored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
Recollets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
rented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/
went away to a private place
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
Rue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
Saint-Jean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
single
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
stocks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
SWINDLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
torrents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
Vauchamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little town of Vauchamp, dark and silent, had just retired to bed amid a chilly November rain.
vine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE SWINDLE It was nine o’clock.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mme Burle was sitting up before a meager fire of vine stocks, while her little grandson Charles pored over his lessons by the pale light of a lamp.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the Rue des Recollets, one of the narrowest and most deserted streets of the district of Saint-Jean, a single window was still alight on the third floor of an old house, from whose damaged gutters torrents of water were falling into the street.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The apartment, rented at one hundred and sixty francs per annum, consisted of four large rooms which it was absolutely impossible to keep warm during the winter.