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 It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
ago
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
all
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From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In the music of silence there are a thousand variations.
awake
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
awakening
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
balcony
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
birds
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From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
boughs
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From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
break
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
dawn
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
day
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
di
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
faint
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
flowers
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
fragrant
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
garden
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
gradual
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
hour
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
how
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
hushed
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From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
men
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
music
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From this reading In the music of silence there are a thousand variations.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
Naples
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
night
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
overhanging
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
palace
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
Prince
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
repose
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
reviving
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
scents
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading In the music of silence there are a thousand variations.
silent
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From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
sky
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From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
solemn
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
stranger
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From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
summer
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
there
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From this reading In the music of silence there are a thousand variations.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the music of silence there are a thousand variations.
tranquil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
tranquillity
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From this reading But how different the tranquillity of reviving day from the solemn repose of night.
two
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From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
variations
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From this reading In the music of silence there are a thousand variations.
voluptuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was the first faint and gradual break of the summer dawn; and two men stood in a balcony overhanging a garden fragrant with the scents of the awakening flowers.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading The stars had not left the sky, the birds were yet silent on the boughs; all was still, hushed, and tranquil.
Zicci
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These men, who alone seemed awake in Naples, were Zicci and the mysterious stranger, who had but an hour or two ago startled the Prince di--in his voluptuous palace.
