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 With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
aged
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From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
America
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From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
beard
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From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
black
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From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
Boston
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From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
boy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
brilliantly
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From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
briskadjectiveUS /brɪsk/
energetic and quick
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
broad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
century
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From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
chin
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From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
eighty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
expanses
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From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
exquisite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
Files
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
frost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
hale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
lip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
magazines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
Nast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
polished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
precision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
revealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
rosy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
seventies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
shaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
shoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
statesman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
sturdy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
suit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
thenceforth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
tie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
trim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
trimmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
Type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
unflecked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was eighty, hale and sturdy, not aged; and his quick blue eyes, still unflecked, and as brisk as a boy's, saw everything.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
waistcoat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
wear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The fine old gentleman revealed when she opened the door was probably the last great merchant in America to wear the chin beard.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
White
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
wide-brimmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this trim white chin beard, the white waistcoat, the white tie, the suit of fine gray cloth, the broad and brilliantly polished black shoes, and the wide-brimmed gray felt hat, here was a man who had found his style in the seventies of the last century, and thenceforth kept it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading White as white frost, it was trimmed short with exquisite precision, while his upper lip and the lower expanses of his cheeks were clean and rosy from fresh shaving.
woodcut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Files of old magazines of that period might show him, in woodcut, as, “Type of Boston Merchant”; Nast might have drawn him as an honest statesman.
