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 Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
briefest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
Buckeye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
callers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
campus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
certainty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
college
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
commonly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
cottage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
curved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
faculty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
grandfather's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
interruption
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
Kelton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
Lane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
maid-of-all-work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
member
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
Professor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
separated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
stole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
student
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
thoroughfare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This thoroughfare was called "Buckeye Lane," or more commonly the "Lane."
tinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
turns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
twists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Kelton cottage stood just off the campus, and was separated from it by a narrow street that curved round the college and stole, after many twists and turns, into town.
Very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very likely it was a student or a member of the faculty, and as her grandfather was not at home Sylvia was quite sure that the interruption would be the briefest.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Sylvia was reading in her grandfather's library when the bell tinkled.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Professor Kelton had few callers, and as there was never any certainty that the maid-of-all-work would trouble herself to answer, Sylvia put down her book and went to the door.
