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 light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
coffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
convincing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
dried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
egotism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
floating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
Giles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
grated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
harshly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
Hôtel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
indifferent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
Legard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
listlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
Milano
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
recoiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
river
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
shutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
stare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
sunlight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
terrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A light laugh came floating into the sunshine through the green shutters of a room in the Hôtel Milano.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/
in the direction of
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
uncrossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He uncrossed his legs, finished his coffee, and rose listlessly, looking down the dried river bed towards the smooth sea.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The indifferent, gentle egotism of the man had recoiled before the meaning of things for so long, that the reality painted itself upon him harshly.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was alone with the sunlight, and it laid bare his face with a convincing stare.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It grated on Giles Legard, who sat on the stone terrace outside, face to face with a naked fact for, perhaps, the first time in ten years.
