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 A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
alarmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
Canby's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
dashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
defending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
dining-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
direction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
ENVELOPE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
evidently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
flowers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
instant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
intense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
Kate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
lawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
mean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
pride
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
proceeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
raid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
regardless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
repeatednounUS /repeated/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
sister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
STRANGE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
thoroughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
tone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
tore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
tramp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
umbrella
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found my sister standing in the middle of the floor, holding in her hand a heavy umbrella with which she had evidently been defending herself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A STRANGE ENVELOPE I was sure that my sister's cry could mean but one thing--that the tramp had made a raid on the house.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As I tore across the lawn, regardless of the bed of flowers which was Mrs. Canby's pride, Kate's cry was repeated, this time in a more intense tone.
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An instant later I dashed across the porch and into the room through the door that, as I have said, stood wide open.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I was thoroughly alarmed, and ran with all possible speed in the direction of the dining-room, from whence the sound proceeded.
