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 But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
accomplishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
alcohol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
Ansted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
attempting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
Claire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "YES," said Claire, "I will try."
contact
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From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
demon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
distasteful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
fight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "YES," said Claire, "I will try."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
long-drawn
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From this reading But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
Russel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "YES," said Claire, "I will try."
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
sigh
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From this reading But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
supposed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
TRUTHS
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From this reading UNPALATABLE TRUTHS.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "YES," said Claire, "I will try."
UNPALATABLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNPALATABLE TRUTHS.
utterly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/
in or to any place at all
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "YES," said Claire, "I will try."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But she said it with a long-drawn sigh.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was work that was utterly distasteful to her, and she saw but little hope of accomplishing anything by attempting it.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She wanted to fight the demon of alcohol wherever found--at least, she had thought that she did; but who would have supposed that it could bring her into such strange contact with Mrs. Russel Ansted?
YES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "YES," said Claire, "I will try."