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 There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
appointment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the door opened slightly.
ComenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She said "Come in" rather unwillingly.
corridor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
disappear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
elapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
moving with quick light beats or trembles
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
Friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
Friend's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
Helena's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She said "Come in" rather unwillingly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
lip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
nourished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the door opened slightly.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said "Come in" rather unwillingly.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said "Come in" rather unwillingly.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She said "Come in" rather unwillingly.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the door opened slightly.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Friend saw first a smiling face, finger on lip.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
tap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.
unwillingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She said "Come in" rather unwillingly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a light tap on Mrs. Friend's door.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some time had elapsed since she had seen Helena's fluttering white disappear into the corridor beyond her room; and she had nourished a secret hope that the appointment had been forgotten.