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 Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I am a coward," he reflected sadly.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I have asked for this and it has come."
clenched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
climbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I have asked for this and it has come."
cost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
coward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am a coward," he reflected sadly.
Dartrey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
disaster
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
fashion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
fingers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
flat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
good-fellowship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
half-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I have asked for this and it has come."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have asked for this and it has come."
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I am a coward," he reflected sadly.
impending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I have asked for this and it has come."
landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
lingered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
Nora's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the last landing he lingered for a moment and clenched his fingers.
overstudious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
prayer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
queer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
recover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
reflected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am a coward," he reflected sadly.
sadly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I am a coward," he reflected sadly.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
self-control
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
Stephen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
Tallente
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "I have asked for this and it has come."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
touch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
WhilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He stood for a moment perfectly still, with half-closed eyes, seeking for self-control very much in the fashion of a man who says a prayer to himself.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whilst Tallente was trying to make up for the years of pleasant good-fellowship which his overstudious life had cost him and to recover touch with the friends of his earlier days, Stephen Dartrey, filled with a queer sense of impending disaster, was climbing the steps to Nora's flat.
