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 She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
all
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From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
any
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From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
away
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From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
ball
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From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
better
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From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
blessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
Bressant
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From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
carried
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From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
concentrate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
Cornelia
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From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
dispute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
entertained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/
thinking that somebody or something will arrive
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
fidelitynounUS /fɪˈdeləti/
continued loyalty to a person or promise
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
FOUNDnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading FOUND.
future
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
hearnounUS /hear/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
herspronounUS /hərz/
the one or ones belonging to her
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
ignorance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
Mankind's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
misgiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
presentiment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
regarding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
reverie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
sister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
sit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
slightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
Sophie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
stayed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That he had returned, expecting to meet her at the ball, she entertained not the slightest doubt; nor was there at this time any suspicion or misgiving in her mind about his fidelity and love.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
wedding-dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sophie, having carried her point regarding her wedding-dress, had nothing better to do after Cornelia had left her than to give herself up to reverie.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
wherein
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a private purpose to sit up until her sister's return, that she might hear all about Bressant, and why he had stayed away so long and sent no word.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Mankind's ignorance of the future is, beyond dispute, a blessing; yet we could wish, for Sophie, that so much presentiment of what was to come might be hers as to lead her to concentrate all possible happy thoughts into the few hours that remained wherein she might yet be happy.
