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 Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
advent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
announced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
balanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
beak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
cage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
claws
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
contracted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
dilated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
discovering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
elegant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
floppy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
girlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
helped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
hostess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
Hullo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
Iglesias
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
Lovegrove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.
maliciously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
parrot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
proceed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
pupils
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
retreat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
Serena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
snapped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
stalk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Serena Lovegrove had opened the door suddenly.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
undecided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
upright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Serena was a tall, elegant, faded woman, dressed in black, her little upright head balanced upon a long thin stalk of neck.
work-bag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then, seeing that Mr. Iglesias alone occupied the room, neither her host nor hostess being present, she paused in the doorway, a large floppy yellow silk work-bag in her hands, undecided whether to retreat or to proceed.
yellowish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And it was thus that the bird, discovering her advent, announced it, while the pupils of his hard, round yellowish grey eyes dilated and contracted--"snapped," as Serena would have said--maliciously.
zinc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hullo, girlie," called the red and green parrot, as it helped itself up the side of its zinc cage with beak as well as claws.
