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 Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
advertisement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His appearance certainly showed no signs of hardship.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The Prince came in quietly and closed the door behind him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Prince came in quietly and closed the door behind him.
cause
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance certainly showed no signs of hardship.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
cigar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Prince came in quietly and closed the door behind him.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Prince came in quietly and closed the door behind him.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
duly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
hardship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance certainly showed no signs of hardship.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
improved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
inquirednounUS /ˈinquired/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
linen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading His appearance certainly showed no signs of hardship.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
Notwithstanding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
perplexed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
pile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
Prince
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Prince came in quietly and closed the door behind him.
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Prince came in quietly and closed the door behind him.
sheets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance certainly showed no signs of hardship.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
signs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His appearance certainly showed no signs of hardship.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
source
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
Spencer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
supplied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
toilet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His linen, and the details of his toilet generally, supplied from some mysterious source into which he had not inquired, were much improved.
Whiles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dr. Spencer Whiles was sitting in a very comfortable easy chair, smoking a particularly good cigar, with a pile of newspapers by his side.
worried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Notwithstanding his increased comfort, however, he was looking perplexed, even a little worried, and the cause of it was there in front of him, in the advertisement sheets of the various newspapers which had been duly laid upon his table.
