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 Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
alert
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From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
apartment
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From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
aristocrat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
arrow
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From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
bidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
bornnounUS /born/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
contrast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
end
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From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
fifty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
furnishings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
golden-framed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
greet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
icon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
ivy-covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
Nevsky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
piercing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
Russians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
salon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
Scholaskie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
Scholaskies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
screen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
sixty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
snow-white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
striking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
surprisednounUS /surprised/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
term
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
thirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
understandnounUS /understand/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Scholaskies’ rooms were on the third floor, and surprised us with their handsome furnishings, from the golden-framed _icon_ to the ivy-covered screen which shut off one end of the salon.
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame, too, was a surprise, as, with her snow-white hair, her piercing, black eyes, and faded, velvet gown, which told of better days, she came forward to greet us.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If not an aristocrat, as the Russians understand the term, she was a lady born, and showed it in her manner, her language and her voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Madame Scholaskie’s rooms were on a side street in an apartment house, which was in striking contrast to the house on the Nevsky, where fifty or sixty servants had done their mistress’ bidding.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
wrinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There seemed to be but one here, a woman wrinkled and old, but straight as an arrow, with a keen look in her eyes as if she were always on the alert and ready for whatever might come.
