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 But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
all
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From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
childish
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From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
children
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From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
comfortable
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
DELINQUENCIES
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From this reading MARGARET LENNARD’S DELINQUENCIES.
Eleanor
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
employers
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
friendliness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
grown-up
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From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
incomprehensibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkɑmprɪˈhensəbəl/
impossible or very difficult to understand
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
kindness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
Lennard
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
LENNARD'S
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From this reading MARGARET LENNARD’S DELINQUENCIES.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
like
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From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
made
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
Major
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
MARGARET
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MARGARET LENNARD’S DELINQUENCIES.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
meaning
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From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
Monckton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
muddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
noun
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From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
perpetual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
physical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
played
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
position
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From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
substantive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. Major Lennard was very kind to Eleanor, and if kindness and friendliness on the part of her employers could have made Mrs. Monckton comfortable, she might have been entirely so in her new position.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading But comfort was a noun substantive whose very meaning must, I think, have been utterly incomprehensible to Major and Mrs. Lennard.
wrong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were like two children who had played at being grown-up people for twenty years or so; and who were as entirely childish in their play now as they had been at the very beginning.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had married very young, had started in life all wrong, and had remained in a perpetual state of muddle, both mental and physical, ever since.
