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 family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
audible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
basket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
bazaar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
cigar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
Clair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
cutting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
dolls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
dressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
General's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
homelike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
knitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
lawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
lion-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
nearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
occupations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
odour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
pacing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
pair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
roses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
scissors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
scraps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
shawl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
Sophia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
Sophy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
Stamford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
tossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I came up with my shawl over my head, the General tossed his cigar away and came nearer, and Sophia put down the basket with the dead roses, and Mrs. St. Clair got up to get me a chair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But there was an aspect about the family which was not usual.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The family party was on the lawn as usual; Miss Stamford seated in her own chair with her knitting and her feet upon the lion-skin; while Mrs. St. Clair beside her, with a basket full of bright scraps, had been dressing dolls for a bazaar.
withered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophy was cutting off the withered roses with a large pair of garden scissors; all their occupations were quite as usual.
yesterday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading In the distance the General’s step was audible pacing about; and there was an odour of his cigar in the air; all as peaceful, as homelike as it always was; but yet a something in the atmosphere which had not been there yesterday.
