Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
arrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
blazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
city
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From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
completely
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From this reading It was completely deserted in the heat and they wandered in peace.
Cæsars
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From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
delightful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading It was completely deserted in the heat and they wandered in peace.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
eternal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
get
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From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
Gimignano
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From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
Halcyone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
heed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
hill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
lovers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
motor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
October
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
paid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
Palace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
Palatine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was completely deserted in the heat and they wandered in peace.
People
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
Perugia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
pick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
pilgrimage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
Professor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
roads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
Rome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading They had only arrived the evening before, and felt the Palatine hill should be their first pilgrimage.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
south
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
wandered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was completely deserted in the heat and they wandered in peace.
warned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading People had warned them not to get to Rome until October, but they were both lovers of the sun, and paid no heed.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Palace of the Cæsars was lying in blazing heat when Halcyone and the Professor decided to spend the afternoon there.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would be particularly delightful to have the eternal city to themselves, and they had come straight down from San Gimignano, meaning to pick up their motor again at Perugia on their way back, as the roads to the south were so bad.
