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 With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
carefully
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From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
curious
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From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
curtain
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From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
darken
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From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
door
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From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
drawn
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From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
Elsie
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From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
fastenings
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From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
glance
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From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
going
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From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
latchkey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
LOST
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From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
oiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
PAPER
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From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
Staffer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
startle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Staffer had had this seen to, after having had difficulty with his latchkey one night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
unusual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE LOST PAPER The sound of the opening door did not startle Elsie, because of her curious feeling that something unusual was going to happen.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Then it struck her that she had not heard a key being turned or a bolt drawn; but the door fastenings were carefully oiled.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a quick glance at the window she decided not to put out the light.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The thick curtain would probably hide it, and, if not, to darken the window suddenly would show that some one was watching.
