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 When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
absurdity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
aching
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From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
Also
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From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
always
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From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
complicated
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From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
cooked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
Daddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
daggerwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
eat
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From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
evolutions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
firmly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
forefinger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
fork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
graspnounUS /ɡræsp/
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
hunger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
Instance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
instrument
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
interval
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
Joan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
magic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
meat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
Munner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
natural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
preparation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
proper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
rattling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
sizzled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
skidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
steamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
supper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
thumb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading There followed the setting of the table, and then a long, aching time of hunger when the food was in sight, but one could not eat until Daddy Dan had done this, and Munner had done that.
using
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Also, when one did eat, half the taste was taken from things by the necessity of various complicated evolutions of knife and fork.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Joan's mother cooked supper there was always much rattling of the stove, then the building of the fire, a long preparation of food, and another interval when things steamed and sizzled on the fire.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He made the preparation for supper with such easy speed that everything seemed to be done by magic hands.
wobbly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instance the absurdity of taking the fork under the thumb with the forefinger pressing along the back of the wobbly instrument, when any one could see that the proper, natural way of using a fork was to grasp it daggerwise and drive it firmly through that skidding piece of meat.
