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 An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
adjourned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was feeling scarcely at his best.
attorney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
awkward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was feeling scarcely at his best.
climax
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
courthouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
district
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
examination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was feeling scarcely at his best.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
Fifty-eighth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
Fischer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
following
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
future
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
grudgingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Pamela herself was to pronounce sentence upon him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Pamela herself was to pronounce sentence upon him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
imagined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
inquiry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
Pamela
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
practical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
pronounce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pamela herself was to pronounce sentence upon him.
protracted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
questions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was feeling scarcely at his best.
sentence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pamela herself was to pronounce sentence upon him.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The district attorney had asked him a great many questions, some rather awkward ones, and the inquiry itself had been almost grudgingly adjourned for a few hours.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Pamela herself was to pronounce sentence upon him.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Pamela herself was to pronounce sentence upon him.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading An examination in the courthouse, which he had imagined would last only a few minutes, had been protracted throughout the afternoon.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Fischer, as he waited for Pamela the following afternoon in the sitting-room of her flat on Fifty-eighth Street, felt that although the practical future of his life might be decided in other places, it was here that its real climax would be reached.
