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 Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
bored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
certainly
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From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
cheeks
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From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
Esther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
excitement
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From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
father
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From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
felt
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From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
folded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
full
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From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
glowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
looks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
moral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
points
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
poring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
pricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
qualities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
remembering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
steady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
STRUGGLES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _STRUGGLES_.
swallowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At last, remembering that she must not stay too long, she folded the letter up and returned to her father.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
wave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Pleasure came in a great wave at first; and then pricks of pain began to make themselves felt, as if the pleasure wave had been full of sharp points.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Esther sat, swallowed up of excitement, poring over this letter, longer than she knew; whether it gave her most pain or pleasure she could not have told.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Her cheeks glowed, her eyes sent looks, or rather one steady look, at the paper, which would certainly have bored it through or set it on fire if moral qualities had taken to themselves material power.
