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 She was the bearer of a message.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
alike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
aloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
Ann
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
ascent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
attractive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
bearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the bearer of a message.
branched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
climbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
Coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
commenced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
consider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
counting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
extremely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
flights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
House
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
July
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
message
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was the bearer of a message.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
nineteenth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
novelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
runningnounUS /ˈrunning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
salt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
shining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
Shropton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
unable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
Valleys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At three o'clock in the afternoon of the nineteenth of July little Ann Shropton commenced the ascent of the main staircase of Valleys House, London.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Coming to that spot where they branched, she paused to consider which of the two flights she had used last, and unable to remember, sat down.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Their number was never alike two days running, which made them attractive to one for whom novelty was the salt of life.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She climbed slowly, in the very middle, an extremely small white figure on those wide and shining stairs, counting them aloud.
