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 He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
abruptly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
arrival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
Brewer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
description
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
dispatch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
examining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
gale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
gathering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
Grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
kinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
languor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
materials
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
memoranda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
Milly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
obediently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
pile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
scrap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Dr Brewer came in upon the girls that same evening somewhat abruptly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One little pile of business papers had been put by itself; letters were lying open, innocent little account books, memoranda of all kinds.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was a busy man, with little time to spare, and he thought his sudden arrival like a gale of wind was a good thing for them in the languor of their grief; but there was no languor about them as he found them.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The table was covered with papers, dispatch boxes, and writing materials.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Grace had turned out all the contents of her father’s boxes, and was gathering together and examining every scrap of written paper, while Milly, with a pen in her hand, obediently wrote down the description of each.
