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 On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
beg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
Colonel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
copying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
despair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
guilt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
Indian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
involuntarily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
Joyce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
kneeling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
mornings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
pardon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
pattern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
pencil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
pieces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
stealthily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Joyce had no book that morning, and was more in despair than ever for something to do.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
trembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When she heard her father’s step, she started as if found out in some act of guilt, grew very red, and dropped her pencil out of her trembling hand.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On one of these mornings the Colonel came to her almost stealthily, with a very soft step, while she was in the drawing-room alone.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was kneeling in front of one of the pretty pieces of Indian work, copying the pattern on a sheet of paper.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said involuntarily.
