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 A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
AgainstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
arranged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
articles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
boxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
contracted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspəʊzd/
left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
faintly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
FirstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
glancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
hung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
indicate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
labeled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When I reached the little shop I paused.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
panes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
paused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached the little shop I paused.
petty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached the little shop I paused.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
shelvesnounUS /ʃelvz/
Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When I reached the little shop I paused.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On my way back I took the opposite side of the street from that I usually approached.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Against two sides of this room were arranged shelves filled with boxes labeled in the usual way to indicate their contents.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When I reached the little shop I paused.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading First glancing at the various petty articles exposed in the window, I quietly stepped in.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A contracted and very low room met my eyes, faintly lighted by a row of panes in the upper half of the door and not at all by the window, which was hung on the inside with a heavy curtain.
