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 clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
Ah
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From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
always
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From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
came
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From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
Charles
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From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
chimney
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From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
courtesy
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From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
daintily
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From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
danced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
Dear-my-soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
Decoration
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From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
edition
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From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
floated
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From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
frisked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
idly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
mauve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
merrily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
merry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
mice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
moonbeam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
nowadays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
print
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
scampered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
Scribner's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
sighed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
Sons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
ThroughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in the light of the moonbeam upon the floor.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, me!" sighed the old clock, "how different mice are nowadays from the mice we used to have in the good old times!
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little mauve mouse was particularly merry; sometimes she danced upon two legs and sometimes upon four legs, but always very daintily and always very merrily.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Through the courtesy of Charles Scribner's Sons, we were permitted to print this small private edition.
WhilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading [Decoration] Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them.