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 MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
apex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
Avenue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
battered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
bygone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
Carr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
ceased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
Commonwealth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
entrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
file-boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
formed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
inscription
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
intimacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
Jefferson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
Kittredge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
Knight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
MAKES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
MERRIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
MR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MR.
necessary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
occupancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
offices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
outward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
remembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
series
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
sheep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
sign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
SUGGESTIONS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
tenants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
tin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
triangle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
tucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
woodwork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.