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 house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
acting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
actors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
Alison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
appeared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
Clays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
crowded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
disporting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
erected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
fun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
supper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
swing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As Alison had not arrived in time for supper, no one took any notice of her when she appeared.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house was crowded--not only the long sitting room, but the little hall, and a good way up the stairs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A stage had been erected at one end of the sitting room; on this stage now the actors were disporting themselves.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Alison arrived at the Clays' the fun was in full swing.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading She found that it was quite impossible to hope to get a corner, either to sit or stand, in the room where the acting was going on.
