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 Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
addresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An almost unheard of thing for this busy woman.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An almost unheard of thing for this busy woman.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
appointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An almost unheard of thing for this busy woman.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
connections
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
correcting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
cover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
Dunlap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
engine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
galley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
limped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
losing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
magazine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
materials
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
notes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
schedule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
sigh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An almost unheard of thing for this busy woman.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
unheard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An almost unheard of thing for this busy woman.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading It began to look as if she might be going to miss her connections unless relief from this state of things came soon.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE train had limped along all the afternoon with engine trouble, and now at evening the passengers learned that they were two hours behind schedule and still losing time.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An almost unheard of thing for this busy woman.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Dunlap put away her writing materials and sat up with a sigh to look about her.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had just finished correcting the last galley of her new book which was to come out that fall; she had gone over the notes for her new addresses she was on her way to make at several appointed places; she had finished reading her magazine from cover to cover; she had even written a couple of letters to friends; and here she was with time on her hands!
