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 Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
array
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
bills
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From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
Burton
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From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
clerical
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From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
cobwebs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
Comic
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From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
corner
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From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
cut
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From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
Cuts
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From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
daily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
decrepit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
distaste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
establishment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
files
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
floor-covering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
fourteen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
gaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
illustrations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
ink-splashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
labors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
linoleum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
looking
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From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
moment
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From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
News
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
office
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From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
office-boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
piles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
pinned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
Police
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
publications
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
remaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
represented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
seedy-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
similar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
sprung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
staff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
surroundings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
tattered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
threshold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A new and peculiar distaste for these familiar surroundings seemed suddenly to have sprung into life.
ugliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time he realized the intense ugliness of this scene of his daily labors.
untidy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Burton stood for a moment upon the threshold of the office, looking around him.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The long desk, ink-splashed and decrepit, was covered with untidy piles of papers, some of them thick with dust; the walls were hung with seedy-looking files and an array of tattered bills; there were cobwebs in every corner, gaps in the linoleum floor-covering.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In front of the office-boy--a youth about fourteen years of age, who represented the remaining clerical staff of the establishment--were pinned up several illustrations cut out from _Comic Cuts_, the _Police News_, and various other publications of a similar order.
