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 Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the only sound on the quiet air.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
Burns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
calling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
decayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
dusk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
Elmore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
hesitated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
hinges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
liveoaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
looming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
mansion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
moss-grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
negro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the only sound on the quiet air.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
path
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
portico
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the only sound on the quiet air.
rows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
sagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
shrubbery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
sling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the only sound on the quiet air.
stately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
tall-columned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
timeworn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
unknown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Elmore was in, but she was not well and could not see any visitors this evening.
whippoorwill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was just at dusk, and far away somewhere a whippoorwill was calling.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burns opened the white gate--it was sagging a little on its hinges--and walked up the moss-grown path between the rows of liveoaks to the tall-columned portico of the still stately, if somewhat timeworn and decayed, mansion among the shrubbery.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The door was opened by an old negro servant, who hesitated over his answer to the question put by this unknown person looming up before him with his arm in a sling.
