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 Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
account
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From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
afflicted
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
arsenical
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From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
becoming
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
bread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
ceded
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From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
clean
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From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
Comrade
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From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
continents
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From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
cupboard
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
deal
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From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
dealer
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From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
doors
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
east
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From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
enormous
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
expanse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
eye
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
faded
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From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
fists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
forms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
human
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From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
indelible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
maps
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From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
marine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
material
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
miserable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
noble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
Ossipon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
padlock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
pence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
poverty
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From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
Professor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
proportions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
resembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
respectable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
smudges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
soiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
stains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
starvation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
suggesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
uninhabited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
unloveliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
Unsaleable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unsaleable in the ordinary course of business on account of its noble proportions, it had been ceded to the Professor for a few pence by a marine dealer in the east of London.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was nothing on the walls but the paper, an expanse of arsenical green, soiled with indelible smudges here and there, and with stains resembling faded maps of uninhabited continents.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At a deal table near a window sat Comrade Ossipon, holding his head between his fists.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The room was large, clean, respectable, and poor with that poverty suggesting the starvation of every human need except mere bread.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The enormous iron padlock on the doors of the wall cupboard was the only object in the room on which the eye could rest without becoming afflicted by the miserable unloveliness of forms and the poverty of material.
