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 A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
allow
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From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
attentive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
banker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
beg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
certain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
Christie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
dear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
detain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
Devil's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
disoblige
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
enjoying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
extended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
Ford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
Francisco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
heat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
Jessie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
Prince's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
returnednounUS /ˈreturned/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
Sacramento
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few days after the girls had returned to San Francisco, they received a letter from their father.
unusually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was no reason why they should return to Devil's Ford in the heat of the summer; their host had written to beg him to allow them a more extended visit, and, if they were enjoying themselves, he thought it would be well not to disoblige an old friend.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His business, he wrote, would detain him in Sacramento some days longer.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Do you know what all this means, dear?” asked Jessie, who had been watching her sister with an unusually grave face.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had heard they had a pleasant visit to Mr. Prince's place, and that a certain young banker had been very attentive to Christie.
