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 troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
actors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
Big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
Blow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
bulb-framed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
chin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
dipped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
dressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
embers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
experimentally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
fat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
features
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
Few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
filmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
Graves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
kneading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
lack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
lucky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
magic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
Sid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
Siddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
star's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
staring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
sternly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
stubble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
sway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
threadbare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
TimenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
tonightadverbUS /təˈnaɪt/
On the present night.
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
troupers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
undershirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
wholly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
working
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
yellowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.