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 FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
BALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
bosom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
boss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
ELLISVILLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
equallynounUS /ˈequally/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
FIRSTnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
gowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
grocery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
Jerry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
leader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
lined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.
littlest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
newly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
Nora
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
Opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
red-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
section
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
starched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Opposite to them, equally silent and equally unhappy, sat a little row of men.
unhappy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These sat silent and unhappy at one part of the long row of chairs that lined the side of the hall.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
waiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below her in order of station came Nora, the head waiter, and the red-headed waiter girl, and the littlest waiter girl, and the wife of the new grocery man.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was gowned in purple, newly starched, and upon her bosom rose and fell the cross that Jerry gave her long ago.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST BALL AT ELLISVILLE The wife of the section boss sat in conscious dignity, as became a leader of society.
