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 While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
accept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
accepting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
dampness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
dissipate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
dried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
ereconjunctionUS /er/
an old word for “before”
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
forth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
hearth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
heeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
invitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
invitingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
kindled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
month
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
planted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
pleasantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
portentously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
September
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɑləmli/
seriously and formally
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
solicitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
warn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading I planted the chair invitingly on the broad hearth, where a little fire had been kindled that afternoon to dissipate the dampness, not the cold; for it was early in the month of September.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But without heeding my solicitation, and still standing in the middle of the floor, the stranger gazed at me portentously and spoke.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While I thus pleasantly spoke, the stranger eyed me, half in wonder, and half in a strange sort of horror; but did not move a foot.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do, sir, be seated; you need to be dried ere going forth again.”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Sir,” said he, “excuse me; but instead of my accepting your invitation to be seated on the hearth there, I solemnly warn _you_, that you had best accept _mine_, and stand with me in the middle of the room.
