Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
absence
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From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
agreeable
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From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
alasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
all
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From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
Anderton
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From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
annoyed
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From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
conversation
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From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
dared
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From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
disconcerted
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From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
evidently
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From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
exhausted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
exquisitely
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From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
extremely
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From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
great-niece's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
Halcyone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
hopelessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
hostesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
interruption
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
Italian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
La
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
lengthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
manners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
polished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
reserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
Roberta
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
Sarthe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
sniffed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
stern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
topics
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
tune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
vinaigrette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They had evidently exhausted all possible topics of conversation and were extremely glad of an interruption.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading She felt herself hopelessly out of tune with the two old ladies, whose exquisitely reserved polished manners disconcerted her.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton was seated in the Italian parlor with the two ancient hostesses when Halcyone at last came into their midst.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading Mrs. James Anderton--good, worthy woman--had not passed an agreeable afternoon either.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Miss La Sarthe had been growing more and more annoyed at her great-niece's lengthy absence, while Miss Roberta felt so nervous she would like to have sniffed at her vinaigrette, but, alas! the stern eye of her sister was upon her and she dared not.
