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 It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
Ailing
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From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
air
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From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
apology
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From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
Barbara
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From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
Brewster
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
cold
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From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
Colonel
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From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
cotillon
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
DE
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
dictator
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From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
difficult
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From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
disdain
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From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
DrewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
Drew's
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
effort
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From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
eleventh-hour
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From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
ENTERTAINS
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
established
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From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
explosively
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From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
expressed
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From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
few
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From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
firmly
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From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
graced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
graces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
guiltless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
Herbert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
heroically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
invitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
maintained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
MILLE
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
Miss
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From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
Montgomery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
Monty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
MRS
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From this reading MRS.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
pangs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
patch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
presence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
role
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
truce
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
usurping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is true he received an eleventh-hour invitation and a very cold and difficult little note of apology, but he maintained heroically the air of disdain that had succeeded the first sharp pangs of disappointment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading DE MILLE ENTERTAINS Miss Drew's cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading A few nights before the cotillon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Ailing was to lead, he explosively expressed surprise.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established himself, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce.
