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 Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
apparatus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
balmy-scented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
bedroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
bowl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
buttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
carrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
cave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
cockles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
Constance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
corridor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
covered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
cutting-out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
directlynounUS /ˈdirectly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
eggs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
entire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
foremostnounUS /ˈforemost/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
gloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
hot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
including
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
jam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
Maggie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
mussels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
parlour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
plate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
sheeted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
showroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
shuttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
slop-basin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
Sophia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
steamingnounUS /ˈsteaming/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
tea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
teapot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She turned to the right, passed along the corridor by the cutting-out room, up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop, up the showroom stairs, through the showroom, and so into the bedroom corridor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
toast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
tray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
unlighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
upside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sophia, foremost, was carrying a large tray, and Constance a small one.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The two girls came up the unlighted stone staircase which led from Maggie's cave to the door of the parlour.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Constance, who had nothing on her tray but a teapot, a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles, and a plate of hot buttered toast, went directly into the parlour on the left.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sophia had in her arms the entire material and apparatus of a high tea for two, including eggs, jam, and toast (covered with the slop-basin turned upside down), but not including mussels and cockles.
