Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
ancestors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
answerednounUS /ˈanswered/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
brilliant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
capital
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
choleric
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
de
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
defend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
delicatesse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
deviner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
discretion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
Explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
fear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
hotly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/
demanded something firmly
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
issuednounUS /issued/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
La
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
Madame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
mandates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
meme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
occupying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
questionner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Explanation "La discretion defend de questionner, la delicatesse defend meme de deviner."
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
seat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
vacant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were a quiet party that evening, Madame having decided to ask no one to meet us.
whenceadverbUS /wens/
an old word meaning “from where”
From this reading So I sat for the first time in the seat of my ancestors, whence my father had issued his choleric mandates, only, I fear, to be answered as hotly.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Madame insisted that I should take the head of the table, she herself occupying a chair at the foot, which had remained vacant as long as I could remember.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was like a piece of the old Paris life, for all had met for better or worse in that city, and spoke the language of the once brilliant capital.
