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 Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
abnormal
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From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
ante-chamber
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From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
architecture
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From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
ATprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading MISS DUNSTABLE AT HOME.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
brethren
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From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
building
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From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
carriageway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
city
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From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
compliance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
drawing-room
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From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
DUNSTABLE
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From this reading MISS DUNSTABLE AT HOME.
erection
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From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
govern
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From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
HOME
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From this reading MISS DUNSTABLE AT HOME.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
love-lorn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/
a young woman who is not married
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
mansions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
MISS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MISS DUNSTABLE AT HOME.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
owner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
parks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
receiving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
rules
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
rural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading It was approached by a short carriageway; the chief door was in the back of the building; and the front of the house looked on to one of the parks.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
terraces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Dunstable did not look like a love-lorn maiden, as she stood in a small ante-chamber at the top of her drawing-room stairs receiving her guests.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood back from its brethren, and alone, so that its owner could walk round it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her house was one of those abnormal mansions, which are to be seen here and there in London, built in compliance rather with the rules of rural architecture, than with those which usually govern the erection of city streets and town terraces.
