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 Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
admission
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From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
applied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
awkward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
bow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
dressmaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
eagerly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
Father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
favored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
Florence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
guest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
health
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
immediately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
inquirednounUS /ˈinquired/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
inquiries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
lodgings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
named
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
Nanina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
neatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
oppressively
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
polite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
priest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
priest's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
protection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
Rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
recovering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
repliednounUS /replied/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
Rocco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
sprucely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
uneasily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Rather an awkward business,” replied the little man, recovering himself uneasily after his third bow.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before the servant could get to the priest’s lodgings a visitor had applied there for admission, and had been immediately received by Father Rocco himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This favored guest was a little man, very sprucely and neatly dressed, and oppressively polite in his manner.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He bowed when he first sat down, he bowed when he answered the usual inquiries about his health, and he bowed, for the third time, when Father Rocco asked what had brought him from Florence.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
wife's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “The dressmaker, named Nanina, whom you placed under my wife’s protection about a year ago--” “What of her?” inquired the priest eagerly.
