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 "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
Eliza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
Family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
Gracie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
invidious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
Jamiesons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
Margaret
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
Maud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
Palestrina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
proper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
quantities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
suggest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We shall have to ask the engaged couple to dinner," I said to Palestrina one morning a few days later.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "I never know in what quantities one ought to ask the Jamiesons," said my sister, "nor how to make a proper selection.
Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "And I suppose one or two more of the rest of The Family would like to be asked at the same time."
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading It seems invidious to suggest that Kate and Eliza and Margaret should come, and not Maud and Gracie; and yet what is one to do?
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The last time that you were away from home I wrote and said, 'Will a few of you come?'
