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 Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
able
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From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
address
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
ahead
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From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
almost
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
appear
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From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
back
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From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
Beacon
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From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
Beaconhite
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From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
BEGINNINGnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
bore
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
broad
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
casual
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From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
Cis
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From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
clear-cut
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
clerk's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
Coming
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From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
compel
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From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
corner
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
darted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
desirable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
displaying
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
down
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
employment
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From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
engraved
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
exceedingly
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
firm
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From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
flat
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
Head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
held
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
Henderson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
HerenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
introduction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
key
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
letter
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From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
lobby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
Lucas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
mail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
Moore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
mooring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
pigeonhole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
portable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
reality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
Rodney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
Roman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
Somehow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
sought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
stirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
strangers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
stumble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
travel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My key and mail, please,” said Cis, trying to appear casual, in reality stirred by hope and fear.
unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/
except if; if not
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BEGINNING Coming back into the lobby of the Beacon Head, Cis darted ahead of Rodney Moore and up to the clerk’s desk.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cis saw at once that the upper left corner bore the name she sought: “Lucas and Henderson,” in exceedingly clear-cut small Roman letters, the firm address engraved below them.
want
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Somehow she did not want to leave Beaconhite; suddenly she found it desirable to stay on here, and this letter might compel her to travel on, unless she were able to stumble upon employment by strangers, to whom she had no introduction.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Here in her particular pigeonhole, held down by the key of her room with its broad, portable mooring displaying the same number as the pigeonhole, lay a letter, fallen almost flat.
