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 It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
addressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
begun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
Canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
Carlton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
casually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
court
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
customary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
Fynes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
glancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
Hamilton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
incoming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
luncheon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
orchestra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
palm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
reception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
restaurant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She entered the office and addressed the chief reception clerk.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
slackenverbUS /ˈslækən/
to become less tight or less strong
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
staying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
stream
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The orchestra had played their first selection, and the stream of incoming guests had begun to slacken.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was already a little past the customary luncheon hour at the Carlton, and the restaurant was well filled.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Can you tell me,” she asked, “if Mr. Hamilton Fynes is staying here?
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A young lady who had been sitting in the palm court for at least half an hour rose to her feet, and, glancing casually at her watch, made her way into the hotel.
