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 Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
abandonment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
Albany
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
avoid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
awful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This is awful!" muttered John Birge to himself.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
Birge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
BIRGE'S
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From this reading JOHN BIRGE'S OPPORTUNITY.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
cellar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day it rained--oh, terribly.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
drops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
drunkenness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One day it rained--oh, terribly.
JOHN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN BIRGE'S OPPORTUNITY.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
lowest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
muddy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
mutteredverbUS /ˈmʌtərd/
spoke in a low voice that was difficult to hear
From this reading "This is awful!" muttered John Birge to himself.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day it rained--oh, terribly.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day it rained--oh, terribly.
OPPORTUNITY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JOHN BIRGE'S OPPORTUNITY.
pitiable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
rained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day it rained--oh, terribly.
rains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
Rensselaer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
slanting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
stair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
terribly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One day it rained--oh, terribly.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This is awful!" muttered John Birge to himself.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
umbrella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Albany is not a pleasant city when it rains, and Rensselaer Street is not a pleasant street.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That was what John Birge thought as he held his umbrella low to avoid the slanting drops, and hurried himself down the muddy road, hurried until he came to a cellar stairs, and then he stopped short in the midst of rain and wind, such a pitiable sight met his eye, the figure of a human being, fallen down on that lowest stair in all the abandonment of drunkenness.
