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 Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
advice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
answers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
assuming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
blankness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
clients
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
De
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
desperate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
exercise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
forehead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
frown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
intervals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
lined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
moist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
professional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
pushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
rings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
Rupert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
shade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/
a person, without saying who
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
stifling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
suggest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The "office" had been stifling hot, and there had been even less to suggest any hope of possible professional business than the blankness of most days held.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His clients had no money, however--nobody had any money; and his affairs were assuming a rather desperate aspect.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There never was any business, but at rare intervals someone dropped in and asked him a question or so, his answers to which, by the exercise of imagination, might be regarded as coming under the head of "advice."
Willoughby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rupert De Willoughby was lying upon the grass in the garden under the shade of a tree.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had come home through the hot streets with his straw hat pushed back, the moist rings of his black hair lying on a forehead lined with a rather dark frown.
