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 Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
abode
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From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
bandbox
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
brick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
bulk
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From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
carry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
district
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From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
doubt
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From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
dull
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From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
dwellers
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From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
entwined
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From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
et
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
fig
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From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
flit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
forever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
fugaciousadjectiveUS /fjuːˈɡeɪʃəs/
lasting for only a short time
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
furnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
ghost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Homeless, they have a hundred homes.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
HenceadverbUS /hens/
for this reason
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
Home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
Homeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Homeless, they have a hundred homes.
homes
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From this reading Homeless, they have a hundred homes.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Homeless, they have a hundred homes.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
lares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
mostly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
penates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
plant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
population
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
ragtime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
Restless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
rubber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
shifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
Side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
Sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
tales
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Homeless, they have a hundred homes.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
transientsplural nounUS /ˈtrænziənts/
people staying somewhere only temporarily
From this reading They flit from furnished room to furnished room, transients forever—transients in abode, transients in heart and mind.
tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
vagrantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪɡrənt/
moving from place to place without settlement
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
vast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
vine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They sing “Home, Sweet Home” in ragtime; they carry their lares et penates in a bandbox; their vine is entwined about a picture hat; a rubber plant is their fig tree.
wake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
West
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Restless, shifting, fugacious as time itself is a certain vast bulk of the population of the red brick district of the lower West Side.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Hence the houses of this district, having had a thousand dwellers, should have a thousand tales to tell, mostly dull ones, no doubt; but it would be strange if there could not be found a ghost or two in the wake of all these vagrant guests.
