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 "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
amusing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
apollinaris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
Bessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
drank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
Durgin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
goblet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm a reformed optimist."
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
innocence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
Jeff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
mischief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
optimist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm a reformed optimist."
pessimist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
reformed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm a reformed optimist."
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
tentatively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Are you still a pessimist, Mr. Durgin?" she asked, tentatively, with the effect of innocence that he knew meant mischief.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then he lay back in the deep chair he had taken, with the air of being ready for any little amusing thing she had to say.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "No; but a glass of water, if you please," he said, and Bessie rang and sent for some apollinaris, which Jeff drank a great goblet of when it came.