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 young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
absently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
blackbird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
doubted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
doze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
evidence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
flank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
gang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
kitten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
peachverbUS /piːtʃ/
inform against or betray someone
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
retrospection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
robbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
sunny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
tea-kettle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
TOGETHER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
tucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
twig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In his hand lay evidence that the gang which had followed him, and through which he no longer doubted that he had been robbed, was now in Paris.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
whisper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no sound in the room save the faint whisper of the tea-kettle.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading TOGETHER He sat there, holding the letter and looking absently over it at the little dog who had gone to sleep again.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sunny garden outside was very still, too; the blackbird appeared to doze on his peach twig; the kitten had settled down with eyes half closed and tail tucked under flank.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The young man sat there with his letter in his hand and eyes lost in retrospection for a while.
