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 There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
appears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
artificial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
August
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
away
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From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
bookcase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
BROKENnounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
clevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/
The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
concealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
confidently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
crickets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
dish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
disorder
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From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
drowsiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
dusk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
dying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
exchanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
flower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
fragile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
fruit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
gray
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From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
hint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
indomitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndəˈmɑtəbəl/
impossible to defeat or discourage
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
inner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
liquor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
LUTE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
messy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
patiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
proclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
relentlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
scents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
seven-thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
shrieking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
side-porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
tainted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BROKEN LUTE _It is seven-thirty of an August evening.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
thousand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There are dying flower scents upon the air, so thin, so fragile, as to hint already of a summer laid away in time.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the table is a dish of fruit, which is real but appears artificial.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But August is still proclaimed relentlessly by a thousand crickets around the side-porch, and by one who has broken into the house and concealed himself confidently behind a bookcase, from time to time shrieking of his cleverness and his indomitable will._ _The room itself is in messy disorder.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The windows in the living room of the gray house are wide open, patiently exchanging the tainted inner atmosphere of liquor and smoke for the fresh drowsiness of the late hot dusk.
