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 A SLOW STEP ON THE STAIRS.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
apology
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
blowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
blunted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
breeze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
cool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
daughter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
eyesight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
gauze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
gulf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
honor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
innocence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
interference
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
labor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
muse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A SLOW STEP ON THE STAIRS.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
peculiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
Senator's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
silken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
SLOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SLOW STEP ON THE STAIRS.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
STAIRS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SLOW STEP ON THE STAIRS.
STEPnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SLOW STEP ON THE STAIRS.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SLOW STEP ON THE STAIRS.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
unquestionably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading In the cool of the morning, and often at night when the gulf breeze was blowing, I leaned back from my labor to muse upon the Senator's peculiar attitude toward me.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now why should he have pressed me to come again to his house, even though the wife were away?
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old woman had said that he was trying to find a way that might lead to an easy apology.
wrapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain sort of innocence or honor had unquestionably blunted his eyesight and wrapped his reason in a silken gauze, but he had seen and felt the interference of his daughter's husband.
