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 The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
American
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
attired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
carved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
convulsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
Dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
deliberate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
dictatorial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
enunciating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
expressively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
fashionably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
favourite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
features
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
Island
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
LongnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
newspaper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
personage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
prevent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
raised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
rocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
shrugged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
speaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
stiff-jointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
suggest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
utterednounUS /ˈuttered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
verandah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dear me!--I thought everybody was convulsed at the news!"
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been carved out of wood.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "She left New York several weeks ago,--didn't you know it?
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The speaker, a young woman fashionably attired and seated in a rocking chair in the verandah of a favourite summer hotel on Long Island, raised her eyes and shrugged her shoulders expressively as she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper in his hand.
