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 I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
calmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
dying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
impression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
portraits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
rushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
shawl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
startle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
Tufnell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading This perhaps threw just a little cloud upon her serenity too, during the morning, for however calmly one may think of dying, I suppose it must startle one to see that others are thinking of it.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am quite well--better than usual,” she said; but I think she knew the meaning of my terror, and felt that after all that had been said it was natural I should be afraid.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading She was not up; but smiled at me from her bed, where she lay with all the pictures and the portraits of her friends about her, the centre of a silent company.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I cannot tell why I thought so, but I woke with such a horror in my mind, that I threw a shawl over my shoulders and rushed to her door to ask how she was, before I could take breath.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next morning when I woke, the impression on my mind was, that Mrs Tufnell must have died in the night.
