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 August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
animate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
August
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
beds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
blazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
blotched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
brittleadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪtəl/
hard but easily broken
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
buried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
carefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
cattle-pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
chestnut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
coals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
colour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
columns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
commercial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
count
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
counted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
curled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
driving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
East
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
elms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
employés
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
ex-urbanated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
fashionable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
fiercely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
gasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
geranium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
informed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
intensify
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
July
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
June
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
lawns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
leaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
loiterer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
main
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
million
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
newspapers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
nobodies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
odd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
parched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
park
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
parks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
population
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
reeked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
resident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
roofs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
scarred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
severe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
Side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
stars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
stifling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
strangers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
stretches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
swelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
sweltering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
thoroughfares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
tin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The fashionable columns of the newspapers informed the fashionable ex-urbanated that the city was empty--though the East Side reeked like a cattle-pen, and another million or two gasped on the hot, tin roofs under the stars, or buried their dirty faces in the parched park grass.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody came into town; that is to say that a million odd strangers came as usual, swelling the sweltering, resident population sufficiently to animate the main commercial thoroughfares morning and evening, but they didn't count; the money they spent was, however, very carefully counted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
wealthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading August was stifling; the chestnut leaves in the parks curled up and grew brittle; the elms were blotched; brown stretches scarred the lawns; the blazing colour of the geranium beds seemed to intensify the heat, like a bed of living coals.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The heat, which had been severe in June, driving the last fashionable loiterer into the country, continued fiercely throughout July.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Nobody who was anybody remained in town--except some wealthy business men and their million odd employés; but the million, being nobodies, didn't count.
