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 While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
afterwards
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From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
Alice
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From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
always
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From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
Auntie
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From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
Barber
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From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
bureau
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
bustling
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From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
came
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
distinct
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
dressing
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
earnestness
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
evening
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From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
exhibit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
fluttered
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
heard
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From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
just
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From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
loitered
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
machinery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
narrow
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From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
prayer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
realize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
robin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
Sabbath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
sacred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
separated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
singing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
snatchesplural nounUS /snætʃɪz/
short, incomplete pieces of speech or writing
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It took but a moment to realize that it was Auntie Barber at prayer.
tremulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
trilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
tune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
vehemently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was some weeks afterwards that I heard from Alice herself the rest of the story.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "I never thought words," she vehemently told me; "they had always seemed to me like so much necessary machinery on which to exhibit the tune."
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While she fluttered from bureau to dressing table, then loitered a moment by the open window trilling her song, from the open window of the next house, separated from her only by a narrow passage way, came a voice, distinct and tremulous with earnestness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On that Sabbath afternoon she had been bustling about her room making ready for the evening service, singing snatches of sacred song, with no more thought of the words than had the wood robin just then singing his evening song.
