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 Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
arduous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
bookseller's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
Cuningham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
devoted
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From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
dined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
dinner-party
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/
A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
dress-clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
dressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
experiences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
Fenwick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
Findon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
gentry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
Kendal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
Lord
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
nervousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
perfectly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
Philip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
portrait-painting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
sponsor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
succeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
sufficient
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
Sunday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
tables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
terms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
twice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
understood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there had been no 'party,' and it had been perfectly understood that for the Kendal bookseller's son a black Sunday coat was sufficient.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
Westmoreland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had, indeed, dined once or twice at the tables of the Westmoreland gentry in the course of his portrait-painting experiences.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Fenwick had never spent a more arduous hour than that which he devoted to the business of dressing for Lord Findon's dinner-party.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was his first acquaintance with dress-clothes.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now, however, he was to meet the great world on its own terms; and though he tried hard to disguise his nervousness from his sponsor, Philip Cuningham, he did not succeed.
