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 One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Sam found himself beginning to wonder about the meetings.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sam found himself beginning to wonder about the meetings.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
Chicago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
child's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
crisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
crowds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
farmhouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
flutter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
furnished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
grown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
hurrying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
ill-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
LittlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
standing or moving slowly without a clear purpose
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
meetings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sam found himself beginning to wonder about the meetings.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
mumbling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
N
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
reflective
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
Rochester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
Sam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
sides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Little things--a smile on the lips of an ill-clad old man mumbling and hurrying past him on the street, or the flutter of a child’s hand from the doorway of a farmhouse--had furnished him food for hours of thought.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
women
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood in a doorway near a corner that seemed to be a public meeting place and from all sides came men and women who met at the corner, stood for a moment in talk, and then went away together.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sam found himself beginning to wonder about the meetings.
Y
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One crisp winter evening Sam found himself on a busy street corner in Rochester, N.Y., watching from a doorway the crowds of people hurrying or loitering past him.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the year since he had walked out of the Chicago office his mind had grown more and more reflective.
