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 As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
Andrews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
appetitenounUS /ˈæpətaɪt/
a desire for food
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in a few days Dowson took her away.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
bags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
bracing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in a few days Dowson took her away.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
crept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in a few days Dowson took her away.
Dowson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in a few days Dowson took her away.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But in a few days Dowson took her away.
forget
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
hammerings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
helped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
ladders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
mews
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
Norfolk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
observed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
peeped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
queer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
recover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
Robin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
seaside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
tiresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But in a few days Dowson took her away.
tools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
trained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
unaccustomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Before Robin had been taken to the seaside to be helped by the bracing air of the Norfolk coast to recover her lost appetite and forget her small tragedy, she had observed that unaccustomed things were taking place in the house.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She heard hammerings which began very early in the morning and went on all day.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Andrews had trained her not to ask tiresome questions, she only crept now and then to a back window and peeped out.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
Workmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Workmen came in and out through the mews at the back and brought ladders with them and tools in queer bags.
