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 The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
amuse
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From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
ball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
beauty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
brilliance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
caps
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From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
children's
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From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
civilians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
clergyman's
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From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
contrasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
crackers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
decorated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
driving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
Egypt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
Empire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
English
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
fez
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
France
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
Government
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
guests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
Khedive's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
levée
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
nondescript
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
officers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
orders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
palace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
palaces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
reminded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
ridiculously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
sham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez.
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
Tamara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
ThirdnounUS /third/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire France--not a thing of beauty.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
ugly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
uniforms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was so great.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the levée uniforms of the officers gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the Government of Egypt.
