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 Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
admitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
another's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
belonged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
caused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
champagne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
club
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
complicated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
congregated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
conveyed
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From this reading A hansom conveyed him thither.
cork
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From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
decorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
disclosing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
ease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
Emmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
hansom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A hansom conveyed him thither.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
Hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
luncheon-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/
to get something, especially through effort
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
pop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
problem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
produce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
raiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
Ravenswood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
scandalized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
scowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
Septimus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
serious-minded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
struggled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
telegrams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading A hansom conveyed him thither.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
unworthiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Then it occurred to him that he belonged to a club--a grave, decorous place where the gay pop of a champagne cork had been known to produce a scandalized silence in the luncheon-room, and where serious-minded members congregated to scowl at one another's unworthiness from behind newspapers.
whereabouts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In the hall he struggled over two telegrams which had caused him most complicated thought during his drive.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Septimus had seen Emmy admitted to the Ravenswood Hotel, he stood on the gloomy pavement outside wondering what he should do.
Zora's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The problem was to ease Zora's mind and to obtain a change of raiment without disclosing the whereabouts of either Emmy or himself.
