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 For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
blast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
blows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
breast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
bringing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
chill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
cloak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
corners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
drops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
Ercole
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From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
folds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
hiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
Nino
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
opera
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From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
persuaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
showers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
sickening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
sirocco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
Sor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
studied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
tepid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For it was a cold sirocco, bringing showers of tepid rain from the south, and the drops seemed to chill themselves as they fell.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It is no use trying to do anything when it blows sirocco, at least for us who are born here.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sirocco was blowing up and down the streets, and about the corners, with its sickening blast, making us all feel like dead people, and hiding away the sun from us.
wrapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I had been persuaded to go with Nino to the house of Sor Ercole to hear my boy sing the opera he had last studied, and so I put my cloak over my shoulders, and wrapped its folds over my breast, and covered my mouth, and we went out.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was really not so long ago--only one year.
