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 Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
Alys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
automobile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
Beth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
brow
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From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
Christmas
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From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
doesn't
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From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
else
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From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
funny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
horns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
It's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
JINGLES
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From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
KRINGLE'S
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From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
KRIS
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From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
laughed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
lip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
Natalie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
pausing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
pencil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
puzzle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
screw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
send
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
slender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
sorts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
sounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
ThosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
thoughtfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading KRIS KRINGLE’S JINGLES “It’s funny,” said Beth thoughtfully.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
tip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
Van
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
vertical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
Voort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
worried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her brow was drawn by a vertical line of puzzle and her voice sounded worried.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “What did Helen Van Voort send us last year, Nat?” asked Alys.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “New York seemed to be doing all sorts of things when I came, and till now, and now it doesn’t seem to be doing anything else but get ready for Christmas.”
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Those are not really automobile horns you hear; they are Kris Kringle’s jingles!” laughed Natalie, pausing with the slender tip of her small screw pencil on her lip.
