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 He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
Arabian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
Avory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I can't imagine what has come over me."
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I can't imagine what has come over me."
favourite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I can't imagine what has come over me."
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
housekeeper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
housekeeper's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I can't imagine what has come over me."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
NightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I can't imagine what has come over me."
paced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
page
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
piano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
print
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
reaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
sentence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the first time in my life I am afraid of being left alone.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
volume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he took up a volume of his favourite _Arabian Nights_ and found, after reading a page, that he had not understood a sentence of the print.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I can't imagine what has come over me."
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
yards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He tried to read the paper, to write a letter, to play the piano; paced the floor; wandered into the housekeeper's sitting-room; went out for a walk and came back after going twenty yards.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading On reaching home he said to his housekeeper: "Mrs Avory, I shall be glad if you will sit up till you hear me go to bed.
