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 This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
chateau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
children
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
church
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
clothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
composed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
Franchi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
girdled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
inhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
lowest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
mayor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was the mayor.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
perceive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
portico
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
sash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
square
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Under the portico, another man clothed in black was seated at a table.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
tri-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading FROM the top of the steps by which one reached the door of the chateau usually inhabited by Madame de Franchi and her son, one could look over the square.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the lowest step of the church door we could perceive a man girdled with a tri-coloured sash.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This square, so silent the night before, was now full of people, but curiously enough there was not a man to be seen, the crowd was composed of women and children under twelve.
