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 He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “No, I think not,” answered Wanda.
approach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
certain
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From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
considered
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From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
contemplating
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From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
day
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From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
Deulin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
dim
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From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
down
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From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
feel
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From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
feminine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
Frenchmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
gallery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
gifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
glance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
grace
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From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “No, I think not,” answered Wanda.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
imperial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
issues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
loneliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
lonely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
majority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
marks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “No, I think not,” answered Wanda.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
portraits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
privilege
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
skirting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
special
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “No, I think not,” answered Wanda.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
Wanda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “No, I think not,” answered Wanda.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
weighednounUS /ˈweighed/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had a feminine way of skirting a subject--of walking round, as it were, and contemplating it from various side issues, as if to find out the best approach to it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deulin, like the majority of Frenchmen, had certain mental gifts, usually considered to be the special privilege of women.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She followed his glance round the room, wondering, perhaps, if the rest of her life was to be weighed down by the sense of loneliness which had come over her that day for the first time.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you not feel lonely in this great room?” he asked, looking round at the bare walls, which still showed the dim marks left by the portraits that had gone to grace an imperial gallery.
