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 A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
after-dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
cigarette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
coffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
dramatic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
enjoying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
fail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
fascination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
Gobion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
Grosvenor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
Hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
INITIATION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
lounges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
NevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
pleasingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
pleasurable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A most pleasurable feeling of excitement possessed him.
resource
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
unrestrained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Never before had he been so free, so unrestrained.
unscrupulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
well-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in the hall after dinner and lit a cigarette, watching the crowd of well-dressed people on the lounges round the wall, enjoying their after-dinner coffee.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _INITIATION._ Gobion went to the Grosvenor Hotel and dressed for dinner.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He knew he could venture where another man would fail; he had fascination, resource--he was utterly unscrupulous; it was almost pleasingly dramatic.