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 Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
Betty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
cast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
check
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
circle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
clearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He's come!” gasped Mrs. Sommers.
defined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
escorted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
fat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
gasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He's come!” gasped Mrs. Sommers.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
good-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
He's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “He's come!” gasped Mrs. Sommers.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
hundred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
Johnny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
knock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
managed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
Neal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
panting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
pounds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
preliminary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
preserve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
result
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
Sommers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
stared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
tossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
upstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Mrs. Johnny Sommers managed to preserve her dignity while she escorted the visitor into the front room, and even while she asked him to sit down and wait, but once she had closed the door behind her she cast dignity far away and did two steps at a time going upstairs.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
widowhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
wildly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a moment there was no sound except her panting and Betty Neal stared wildly at her from above her book.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The result was that she, reached the room of Betty Neal entirely out of breath; two hundred pounds of fat, good-natured widowhood do not go with speed.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading She tossed open the door without any preliminary knock and stood there very red with a clearly defined circle of white in the center of each check.
