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 They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
Armand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
Box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
covers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
deciding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
dependencies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
Firmin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
Five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
flung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
huge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
leads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
Leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
ledges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
lobby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
M
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
managers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
Moncharmin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
offices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
rows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
stalls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
subscribers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were almost alone in the huge, gloomy house; and a great silence surrounded them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
tier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then they made their way through the front rows of stalls and looked at Box Five on the grand tier.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They could not see it well, because it was half in darkness and because great covers were flung over the red velvet of the ledges of all the boxes.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading We left M. Firmin Richard and M. Armand Moncharmin at the moment when they were deciding "to look into that little matter of Box Five."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Leaving behind them the broad staircase which leads from the lobby outside the managers' offices to the stage and its dependencies, they crossed the stage, went out by the subscribers' door and entered the house through the first little passage on the left.
