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 He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
Abbe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
affects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
beadle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
blisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
bottom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
cathedral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
choir-school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/
an open area surrounded by the walls of a building
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
crackled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
cutaneous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
disease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
eaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
glaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
gnarled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
jar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
l'Acacia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
leprosy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
littered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
lodged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
pails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
plasternounUS /ˈplæstər/
a soft material used to cover and protect a wound
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
Plomb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
rifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
rubbish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
Rue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
seek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
spotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
stock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
suffering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
vine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The dead stock of a vine stretched its gnarled black arms along the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One morning Durtal went out to seek the Abbe Plomb.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He could not find him in his own house, nor in the cathedral; but at last, directed by the beadle, he made his way to the house at the corner of the Rue de l'Acacia, where the choir-school was lodged.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
yard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went in by a gate that stood half open, into a yard littered with broken pails and other rubbish.
zig-zag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The house, beyond this courtyard, was suffering from the cutaneous disease that affects plaster, eaten with leprosy and spotted with blisters, with zig-zag rifts from top to bottom, and a crackled surface like the glaze of an old jar.
