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 In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
absently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
Beethoven's
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From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
bore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
bronzed-faced
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From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
Club
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From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
corner
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From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
Curzon
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From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
divinely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
highly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
near-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
NextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
pay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
piano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
player
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
prized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
quaint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
sanctuarynounUS /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/
A place of safety, refuge, or holy retreat within the academy.
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
sonatas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
teeth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
uptown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a rear room of a quaint little house uptown, a great bronzed-faced man sat at a piano, a dead pipe between his teeth, and absently played the most difficult of Beethoven's sonatas.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The player, it seemed, did not expect them to: he paid very little attention himself.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Though he played it divinely, the three men who sat smoking and talking in a near-by corner paid not the least attention to him.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Next to the selection of members, that is, no doubt, the most highly prized thing about the Curzon Club: you are not expected to pay attention unless you want to.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading It is a sanctuary where no one can bore you, except yourself.
