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 beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
arm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evidently visitors had recently arrived.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
austere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
ceaseless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
chattering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
climbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
companion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
conversation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
David's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
elegant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
Esther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
Evidently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evidently visitors had recently arrived.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
Fentolin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
flow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
good-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Evidently visitors had recently arrived.
Hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
Hamel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
Pomeranian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
recently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evidently visitors had recently arrived.
reminded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
stranger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
sweep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
terrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
transformed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
visitors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Evidently visitors had recently arrived.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading By her side stood another woman who was a stranger to Hamel--thin, still elegant, with tired, worn face, and the shadow of something in her eyes which reminded him at once of Esther.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dark, rather good-looking woman, with pleasant round face and a ceaseless flow of conversation, was chattering away to Mr. Fentolin.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wore a large picture hat and carried a little Pomeranian dog under her arm.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The beautiful but somewhat austere front of St. David’s Hall seemed, in a sense, transformed, as Hamel and his companion climbed the worn grey steps which led on to the broad sweep of terrace.
