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 THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
admitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
awoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was a decision to be made.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
blinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
button-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
carnation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
cleaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
clinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
clove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decision to be made.
dropped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
END
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
exhausted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
fix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
fixed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
God-sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decision to be made.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
midnight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
night's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
odour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
perfume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
queer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
removed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
Shelton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
spice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
staring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a decision to be made.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
trance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
unaired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Shelton fixed his eyes on that outside darkness, as one lost man might fix his eyes upon another.
wafted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a decision to be made.
whiff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The curtains and blinds had been removed for cleaning, and the tall windows admitted the night's staring gaze.
withered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An unaired, dusty odour clung about the room, but, like some God-sent whiff of grass or flowers wafted to one sometimes in the streets, a perfume came to him, the spice from the withered clove carnation still clinging, to his button-hole; and he suddenly awoke from his queer trance.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading THE END He reached his rooms at midnight so exhausted that, without waiting to light up, he dropped into a chair.
