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 One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
Belle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
coaxingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
curly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
gleenounUS /ɡliː/
great delight or happiness
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
Jack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
kissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
Mary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
Mary's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
Nannie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
Please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
readiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
sofa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
stories
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
STORY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STORY.
Sunday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORY.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.
upturned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One Sunday afternoon, as Mary sat reading in the porch, Jack and Charlie came and sat down by her on the old sofa; and soon Charlie put his little curly head between her face and the book, and said coaxingly, "Please tell us a story, sister Mary."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
welcomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little upturned face was well kissed before sister Mary said, "Well, Jack, call Nannie and Belle, and we'll have a story."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Jack ran off in high glee, for sister Mary's stories were always welcomed by the children.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Nannie and Belle came as fast as their feet would bring them, and were soon sitting in readiness on the porch steps.