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 “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
Ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
assembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was followed by a hearty laugh from the assembled family.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
Bates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was followed by a hearty laugh from the assembled family.
calling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
Curtis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
demand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
eldest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was followed by a hearty laugh from the assembled family.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was followed by a hearty laugh from the assembled family.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
heartyadjectiveUS /ˈhɑrti/
large, enthusiastic, and satisfying, especially of a meal
From this reading It was followed by a hearty laugh from the assembled family.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was followed by a hearty laugh from the assembled family.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
Matilda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
Nancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
powersnounUS /powers/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I should think he was--rather!” said Charley Bates, the son; and “Ask Nancy,” said Matilda, the eldest daughter.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is Mr. Curtis here?” said a voice at the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But this question was one about which there was no difficulty.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The door was so near the sitting-room that every demand made there was easily heard, and even answered from within; and, indeed, Mrs. Bates was in the habit of calling out an answer when it happened to be beyond the powers of the daughter or small servant who opened.
