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 merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
admiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
canvas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
chimerical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
Christ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
creation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
curiosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
deathless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
divine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
exerted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
existence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
fancies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
flesh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
forgot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
freaks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
gentle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
groove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
mahogany
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
names
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
noiselessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
panel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
Raphael
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
sacred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
show-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At sight of this deathless creation, he forgot his fancies in the show-rooms and the freaks of his dreams, and became himself again.
slid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
solid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
spectator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
stranger's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
sway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The merchant, who no doubt looked for this, pressed a spring, and suddenly the mahogany panel slid noiselessly back in its groove, and discovered the canvas to the stranger’s admiring gaze.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old man became a being of flesh and blood, very much alive, with nothing chimerical about him, and took up his existence at once upon solid earth.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the sacred names of Christ and Raphael the young man showed some curiosity.
younger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sympathy and love, and the gentle serenity in the divine face, exerted an instant sway over the younger spectator.