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 She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
aching
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From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
bank-notes
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From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
bore
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From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
dim
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From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
dispersed
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From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
distinct
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From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
door
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From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
eyes
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From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
failing
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From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
firm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
guided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
hand
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From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
How
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From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
Hugo
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From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
Innocent
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From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
Jocelyn's
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From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
living
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From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
nerve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
packet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
rise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
scarcely
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From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
closed and kept secret in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
sensitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
swam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
swell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
thrilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
throatnounUS /θroʊt/
The passage at the back of the mouth.
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
trace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
unfolded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
Upstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a lack of physical strength
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her head swam.--her eyes were dim--for a moment she could scarcely see--then the mist before her slowly dispersed and she read the first words, which made her heart swell and the tears rise in her aching throat.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Upstairs, shut in her own little room with the door locked, Innocent opened the sealed packet.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading She found within it a letter and some bank-notes.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How strange it was, she thought, that the written words should look so living and distinct when the writer was dead!
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sensitive pain which thrilled every nerve in her body she unfolded the letter, written in Hugo Jocelyn's firm clear writing--a writing she knew so well, and which bore no trace of weakness or failing in the hand that guided the pen.
