Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Sunday upset the hours for rising, even among the Maheus.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
bare
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From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
bucketfuls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
children
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From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
country
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From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
day
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From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
deluged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
dressed
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From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
dry
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From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sunday upset the hours for rising, even among the Maheus.
evening
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From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
expensive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
father
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From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
feast-day
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From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
five
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From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
flags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
hours
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From this reading Sunday upset the hours for rising, even among the Maheus.
housekeepers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
July
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
lay
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From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
luxury
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From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
Maheus
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From this reading Sunday upset the hours for rising, even among the Maheus.
Montsou
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
nine
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From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
Nord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
parlours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
promised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
purses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
rising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunday upset the hours for rising, even among the Maheus.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
Saturday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
settlement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
skies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
stifle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
strewn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
Sunday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
threatening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
throwing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
upset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sunday upset the hours for rising, even among the Maheus.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
warm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the day promised to be very warm; it was one of those heavy skies threatening storm, which in summer stifle this flat bare country of the Nord.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Montsou feast-day, the last Sunday in July.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the father, after five o'clock, grew weary of his bed and dressed himself, the children lay in bed until nine.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Since Saturday evening the good housekeepers of the settlement had deluged their parlours with water, throwing bucketfuls over the flags and against the walls; and the floor was not yet dry, in spite of the white sand which had been strewn over it, an expensive luxury for the purses of the poor.
