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 His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
absurd
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From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was no great muster as yet.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
cigars
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
Cock
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From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
declined
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From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
desire
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From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
dine
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From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
dinner
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From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
drawings
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
early
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
evening
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From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
fixed
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From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
full
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
gathering
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From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
gratified
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was no great muster as yet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
half-a-dozen
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
later
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
lying
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
maidenly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
meet
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
men
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
muster
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From this reading There was no great muster as yet.
nine
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no great muster as yet.
now
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From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
o'clock
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
odd-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
picked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
publisher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
publisher's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
room
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
shy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
sipped
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
soda
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
some
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
spacious
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
spasmodically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
struggled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
tables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
There
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From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His publisher had asked him to dinner, but he had declined, from a secret and absurd desire to dine at "The Cock."
turned
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From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
up
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From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
Victorians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no great muster as yet.
whisky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This he gratified, and with his mind full of the spacious times of the early Victorians, he turned into the publisher's little room about nine o'clock to meet some of the later.
WITS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WITS There now remained the gathering of wits fixed for the evening.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading There was no great muster as yet.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some half-a-dozen rather shy young men spasmodically picked up strange drawings or odd-looking books, lying about on the publisher's tables, struggled maidenly with cigars, sipped a little whisky and soda; but little was said.
