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 Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
answer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esmeralda’s beauty took him by surprise.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
blouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
blue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
bowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Esmeralda’s beauty took him by surprise.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
dart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
direct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
Esmeralda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
Esmeralda's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esmeralda’s beauty took him by surprise.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Esmeralda’s beauty took him by surprise.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
lawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
Pinchook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
rough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
skirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
stocking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esmeralda’s beauty took him by surprise.
uncouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
uncultivated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Pinchook gave a little start of surprise, then got up and bowed.
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With her stocking in her hand, she stood upright as a dart, and looked at the dry little lawyer in her direct fashion.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Esmeralda, though she wore a short skirt with a blue blouse, and was without a hat, did not look uncouth, however uncultivated she may have been.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had expected to see--well, if he had been asked what he had expected to see, he would have found it difficult to answer: something rough and uncouth, and, of course, quite uncultivated.
