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 For a time I had no progress to report.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
appear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
casual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
class
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
consideration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
courage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
dancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
demanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
discontinued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
dismissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
doomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
encounters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
Episcopalians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
fast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
household
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
ingeniousadjectiveUS /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
Ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
Lent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
Mary's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
meetings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
Nancy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
Out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
parents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
report
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
ridicule
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
Salisbury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
Seminary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
Street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For a time I had no progress to report.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nancy's school was dismissed at two, so was mine.
weekly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I set about making ingenious plans with a view to encounters that might appear casual.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Out of consideration for those members of our weekly dancing class whose parents were Episcopalians the meetings were discontinued during Lent, and to call would have demanded a courage not in me; I should have become an object of ridicule among my friends and I would have died rather than face Nancy's mother and the members of her household.
Young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By walking fast I could reach Salisbury Street, near St. Mary's Seminary for Young Ladies, in time to catch her, but even then for many days I was doomed to disappointment.
