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 door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
advanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
ajar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
apartment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
ARSENIO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
Arsenio's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
author
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
bureau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
clasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
drawers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
establishment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
flapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
latchkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
leather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
Louis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
luck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
MASCOT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
Nice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
paces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
portfolio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
revolver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
seller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
showing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
slightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
ticket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
valet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
waiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In his left hand he held, clasped against his body, a large black leather portfolio or letter case; in his right was the revolver which his master had given him to clean.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The door of his sitting room, the long, narrow room which I have described before, stood slightly ajar, and a light shone through it.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I advanced across the passage—the hall could hardly be called more—and flung the door wide open as I entered, Arsenio following just behind.
winning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in the middle of the room, two or three paces from the big bureau, one side of which flapped open, showing shelves and drawers, stood Louis the valet, the waiter from that “establishment” of Arsenio’s at Nice, the seller of the winning ticket, the author of Arsenio’s luck.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MASCOT ARSENIO opened the door of the apartment with his latchkey and stood aside to let me pass in first.
