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 Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
apron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
concealment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
consisting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
daily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
defiant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
domestic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
emerged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
getting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
grim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
hated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
hauling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
Hilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
household
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
indication
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
irreproachable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
Lessways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
lobby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
nature's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
noisily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
passionately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
polished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
preparing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
rope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
scullery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
slightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
strike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
temporarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
widowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Lessways household, consisting of Hilda and her widowed mother, was temporarily without a servant.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hilda hated domestic work, and because she hated it she often did it passionately and thoroughly.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Even the apron which she had worn was hung in concealment behind the scullery door.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That afternoon, as she emerged from the kitchen, her dark, defiant face was full of grim satisfaction in the fact that she had left a kitchen polished and irreproachable, a kitchen without the slightest indication that it ever had been or ever would be used for preparing human nature's daily food; a show kitchen.
wound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The lobby clock, which stood over six feet high and had to be wound up every night by hauling on a rope, was noisily getting ready to strike two.