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 INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
aprons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
attendants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
authority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rival Promenade had already passed away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
behest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
cloak-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
date
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
frivolous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
hats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
INVISIBLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
issuednounUS /issued/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
moving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
murmuringly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
neverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
official
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The rival Promenade had already passed away.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
plush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
portières
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
POWERSnounUS /powers/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
Promenade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
prophecynounUS /ˈprɒf.ə.si/
A prediction of what will happen in the future, often divinely or magically inspired.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
reliable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
rival
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rival Promenade had already passed away.
ruled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
rumour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
Several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
shared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
stated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
tale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But to-night it was stated that the Promenade would be closed at the end of the week, and everybody concerned knew that the prophecy would come true.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading No official notice was issued, no person who repeated the tale could give a reliable authority for it; nevertheless, for some mysterious reason it convinced.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
woe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The high invisible powers who ruled the world of pleasure were moving at the behest of powers still higher than themselves; and the cloak-room attendants, in their frivolous tiny aprons, shared murmuringly behind plush portières in the woe of the ladies with large hats.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE INVISIBLE POWERS Several times already the rumour had spread in the Promenade that the Promenade would be closed on a certain date, and the Promenade had not been closed.
