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 Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
angry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
Dameron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
disquieting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
FIRSTnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
flashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
hideousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
interview
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
Merriams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
OCTOBER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
repetition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
sentence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
September
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST OF OCTOBER The old Dameron house had known much of the pain and joy of life.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
tolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One sentence rang in her head over and over again, like a tolling bell; and she could see at every repetition the angry light that had flashed in her father’s eyes:
tumult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Merriams had been born and had died there; but the tumult of spirit that shook it on the last night of September was of a new and disquieting order.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She went over the interview with her father sentence by sentence, with surprise that she could remember so well; and a kind of terror possessed her, now that she saw the hideousness of it all.
Zelda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zelda closed the door and sat down at her desk by the window.