Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
21st
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The date was February 21st.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
advised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Console yourself, Frank, dear,” she advised, teasing him.
amusement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
BEauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
calendar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
Console
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Console yourself, Frank, dear,” she advised, teasing him.
customers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
date
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The date was February 21st.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
day-by-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Console yourself, Frank, dear,” she advised, teasing him.
demon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
drowsiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
elf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
EXPLAINED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
February
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The date was February 21st.
figures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
Frank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Console yourself, Frank, dear,” she advised, teasing him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
lulls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
mischievous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
run-ins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
snapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
SOMETHINGpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
succession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
teasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Console yourself, Frank, dear,” she advised, teasing him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
twinkle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
Vaniman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
Vona's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
wakefulness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once she pointed to the big figures on the day-by-day calendar on the wall.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The date was February 21st.
WheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever he caught himself snapping back into wakefulness he found Vona's twinkle of amusement waiting for him.
wicket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading SOMETHING TO BE EXPLAINED By noon that day, in the lulls between customers at the wicket, Vaniman had had a succession of run-ins with the demon of drowsiness--a particularly mischievous elf, sometimes, in business hours.
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “Console yourself, Frank, dear,” she advised, teasing him.