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 Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
Also
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
bearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
bitterness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
breakfast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
cheeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
childish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
corn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
David
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
eaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
flushed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
hurry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
Marcia's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
odor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
platter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
realized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
reserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
steady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
steamingnounUS /ˈsteaming/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
sweet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
touched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
wistful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.