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 She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
all
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From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
Atlanta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
bead-like
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From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
bigger
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From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
boarder
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From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
brother's
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From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
brown
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From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
chuckled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
counter
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From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
cross-roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
downward
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From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
eagerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
face
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From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
flashing
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From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
fools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
frame
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From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
inward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
keeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
mighty
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From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
Sally-Lou
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
shoulder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
shown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
sinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
spinsterhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
stiffness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
tendency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
thinness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "So all this time their high and mighty boarder was engaged to be married.
traces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, well, well!" she chuckled, her small, bead-like eyes flashing up into her brother's face.
Wartrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had passed well into spinsterhood, as was shown by the inward sinking of her cheeks, the downward tendency of the lines about her mouth, the traces of gray in her brown hair, and a general thinness and stiffness of frame.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading That afternoon, Miss Sally-Lou Wartrace, sister of the keeper of the store at the cross-roads, was at her brother's counter eagerly reading an Atlanta paper while he stood looking over her shoulder.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Did you ever in all your life hear of bigger fools?
