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 While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
able
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From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
all
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From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
always
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From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
anticipated
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
appear
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From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
boys
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From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
busy
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
cheerful
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
children's
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From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
Colonel
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
confessed
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
dinner
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From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
dusting
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From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
extra
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From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
F
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From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
forgive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
Fred
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
inconsiderate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
Jane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
Katherine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
LAWYER'S
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From this reading THE LAWYER'S VISIT.
leave
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From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
Liddell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
Liddell's
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From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
Ormonde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
places
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From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
preparing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
sister-in-law
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
suited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
tea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAWYER'S VISIT.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was rather inconsiderate, she thought, of Katherine to go out and leave all the extra dusting of the drawing-room to her.
views
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
VISIT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE LAWYER'S VISIT.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If Katherine would only stay out all day she could forgive her--but she would be sure to come in for dinner, and so appear at afternoon tea, which by no means suited Mrs. F. Liddell's views.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she, Katherine, had remained at home she would have taken the boys, as she always did, and then Jane, the house and children's maid, would have been able to help.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While her young sister-in-law was thus seeking fortune in strange places, Mrs. Fred Liddell was spending a busy and, it must be confessed, a cheerful morning, preparing for the anticipated visit of Colonel Ormonde.
