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 famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
ancestors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
ancestry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
beaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
claim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
classic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
dancer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame Many Smiles was dead.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
esteemed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
famous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
festival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
fluttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
gates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
homage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
illuminated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
joyhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
Joys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
Land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
legend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Many Smiles was dead.
Many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Many Smiles was dead.
moth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
objects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
popularity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
relatives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
reveller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
seeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
Shadows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
Smiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Many Smiles was dead.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
storms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
Thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The famous dancer of the House of a Thousand Joys had fluttered out into the Land of Shadows.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
vie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
wane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
warmth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Madame Many Smiles was dead.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading In a land where one's ancestry is esteemed the all important thing, Madame Many Smiles had stood alone, with neither living relatives nor ancestors to claim her.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
winds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Who she was, or whence she had come, none knew, but the legend of the House was that on a night of festival she had appeared at the illuminated gates, as a moth, who, beaten by the winds and storms without, seeks shelter in the light and warmth of the joyhouse within.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No longer would poet or reveller vie with each other in doing homage to her whose popularity had known no wane with the years, who had, indeed, become one of the classic objects of art of the city.
