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 On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
air
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From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
almost
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From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
aspect
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From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
break
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From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
breeding
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From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
bright
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From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
charm
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From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
choosenounUS /choose/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
completely
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From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
Edward
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From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
emphatic
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From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
expression
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From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
features
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From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
forefinger
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From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
garden
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From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
Hamilton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
influence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
intellect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
lady
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From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
mansion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
mirthful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
named
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From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
neighboring
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From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
observers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
ominous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
otherwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
pointed
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From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
refinement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
scope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
shrubbery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
spell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
stealthily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
unprepossessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
unseen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
whisper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His features wore even an ominous, though somewhat mirthful expression, while he pointed his long forefinger at the girl, and seemed to regard her as a creature completely within the scope of his influence.
works
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The charm works!” said he, in a low, but emphatic whisper.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you know, Edward Hamilton,—since so you choose to be named,—do you know,” said the lady beside him, “that I have almost a mind to break the spell at once?
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a bright summer evening, two persons stood among the shrubbery of a garden, stealthily watching a young girl, who sat in the window seat of a neighboring mansion.
youthful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these unseen observers, a gentleman, was youthful, and had an air of high breeding and refinement, and a face marked with intellect, though otherwise of unprepossessing aspect.
