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 THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
arch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
arched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
chairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
cord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
Dauvray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme. Dauvray waited impatiently.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
firmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
Helene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
impatiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme. Dauvray waited impatiently.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
lashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
loosened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
mantel-shelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
Mme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme. Dauvray waited impatiently.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
pillar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
pillars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
position
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
recess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
salon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
SEANCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
stool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
supported
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The round table had been put in position, with three chairs about it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The curtains had been loosened at the sides of the arched recess in front of the glass doors, ready to be drawn across.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
Vauquier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mme. Dauvray waited impatiently.
wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading THE SEANCE Helene Vauquier locked the door of the salon upon the inside and placed the key upon the mantel-shelf, as she had always done whenever a seance had been held.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Inside the recess, against one of the pillars which supported the arch, a high stool without a back, taken from the hall, had been placed, and the back legs of the stool had been lashed with cord firmly to the pillar, so that it could not be moved.
