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 An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
abundant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
ACHMET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACHMET THE ASTROLOGER.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
apparition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
ASTROLOGER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACHMET THE ASTROLOGER.
backward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
bosom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
breast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
cloak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
flowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
folded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
Jasper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
Oriental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
pair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
patriarchal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
piercing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
profound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
regarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
salaam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man folded his arms across his bosom--and made him a profound Oriental salaam.
scalp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
seamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
silver-white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
singular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
skull-cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
streamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ACHMET THE ASTROLOGER.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
tight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
trailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
wearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir Jasper took a stop backward, and regarded this singular apparition in wonder.
wrinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A patriarchal board, abundant and silver-white, streamed down his breast, and out of a dull, white face, seamed and wrinkled, looked a pair of eyes piercing and black.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading An old man, yet tall and upright, wearing a trailing cloak of dull black, long gray hair flowing over the shoulders, and tight to the scalp a skull-cap of black velvet.